Military Fortifies Roads to Airports and Beaches on Day Four of Drills
Taiwan's armed forces focused on defending critical infrastructure and potential invasion routes on the fourth day of this week's nationwide combat readiness drills. In northern Taiwan, troops established defensive positions along key roads leading to the country's largest international airport while forces in the south drilled at a beach considered a potential landing site for an invasion.
Taiwan Military Roadblock Drills Highlight Defense Preparations
REPORTER:
Armored vehicles, barbed wire, and HESCO fortifications form a roadblock in northern Taiwan.
Troops here are on their fourth day of combat readiness drills and on Thursday, they defended critical transport routes.
Their simulation—along key roads leading to Taiwan’s largest airport—could prove vital in an actual war. But barriers do more than just delay an enemy advance.
Chen Kuo-ming (EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, DEFENCE INTERNATIONAL):
The obstacles not only block the enemy
but also force them to divert around.
Looking at either side of these fortifications
these areas are designated 'kill zones' for defenders.
REPORTER:
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to use force to seize the county.
As such, these drills are part of a five-day program meant to ensure troops can rapidly transition from peacetime to wartime roles.
On Wednesday, Defense minister Wellington Koo said warning times are shrinking, making the military's response times vital.
REPORTER:
In Southern Taiwan, similar drills were carried out along Tainan's coast. Xishu Beach is a designated "red beach" - a strategic location considered potentially vulnerable to an invasion. It's nearby the city's Anping Port as well as its airport. Southwestern Taiwan generally has flatter, less easily defended geography compared to Taiwan's mountainous north or east coasts. The beach has been the site of several military drills – the most recent one taking place less than a month ago.
REPORTER:
As the combat readiness drills enter their fifth and final day on Friday, the country's military looks set to continue preparing to defend the country.
