Taipei: Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) has expressed strong disapproval of China's recent decision to establish a zone for "shooting exercises" in waters near Taiwan without any prior notification. This move mirrors a similar event that occurred near Australia.
According to Focus Taiwan, China demarcated a military training and exercise area approximately 40 nautical miles (74 kilometers) off the coasts of Kaohsiung and Pingtung County for conducting "shooting drills." The MND made this announcement in a statement on Wednesday afternoon, highlighting the lack of notice given before the exercise.
The MND reported that China informed them on Wednesday through radio transmissions about an impending shooting drill in unspecified areas, though the exact time of notification was not disclosed. The ministry emphasized that this unexpected move posed significant risks to international flight safety and vessels operating in the vicinity.
In its statement, the MND strongly condemned the unannounced establishment of the zone, labeling it a clear violation of international norms. Furthermore, as of 2:10 p.m. on Wednesday, China had deployed 32 military aircraft into Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) since 8:42 a.m., with 22 crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait or its extension. These aircraft are part of a "joint combat readiness patrol" conducted alongside Chinese warships, marking the ninth such incident this year and the fifth this month, according to the MND.
The MND criticized these maneuvers as a direct challenge to regional security and contrary to China's stated intention of collaborating with the international community for peace and prosperity through mutual respect. In response to these threats, Taiwan's armed forces have deployed air, sea, and land units.
China's recent activities, including live-fire exercises near Vietnam and Australia and intimidation tactics towards the Philippines, demonstrate its position as the primary threat to peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region, the MND asserted. Taiwan's military will continue to enhance its defense capabilities and closely monitor developments around the Taiwan Strait to ensure national security.
An ADIZ is a self-declared area in which a nation asserts the right to identify, locate, and control approaching aircraft, although it does not constitute part of the nation's territorial airspace under international law.