Taiwan Remains on High Alert After Massive Chinese Live-Fire Drills

REPORTER:  

Taiwan remains on high alert, despite massive Chinese live-fire drills around the country wrapping up.

On Monday, Beijing announced “Justice Mission 2025” - declaring seven restricted zones around Taiwan, and deploying record numbers of ships and warplanes around the country, simulating what a blockade might look like.

The Chinese military also launching rockets into waters surrounding Taiwan.

This time, the rocket impact point was indeed closer to Taiwan than before.

We believe that was one of the messages they deliberately wanted to send.

REPORTER:  

The defense ministry says some of China’s rockets landed within Taiwan’s 24-nautical mile contiguous zone, the closest ever in a live-fire drill.

China’s rockets were launched in two waves:

* the first wave targeting an area Northeast of Keelung’s port, but outside the 24-nautical mile zone,

* while the second wave landed in waters off Tainan within the boundary.

REPORTER:  

Taiwan’s ocean affairs officials say Chinese ships are moving away from Taiwan. The defense ministry tracked 77 Chinese aircraft and 17 naval vessels in the 24 hours leading up to Wednesday morning – that's 207 planes and 49 ships across two days of exercises.

REPORTER:  

The exercise, launched days after the US announced a record $11 billion arms package for Taiwan, has drawn global condemnation.

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te says Chinese intimidation of Taiwan has been expanding across the region, and the military needs to stay resolute.

Lai Ching-te (PRESIDENT):  

Facing rapidly changing enemy threats and tactics I expect all generals and officers to lead their troops with higher standards strengthening combat readiness, discipline and command efficiency.

REPORTER:  

Some analysts say these drills, which also came during a time of tension between Beijing and Tokyo, may be aimed not just at Taiwan but at countries that might intervene in a potential invasion.

If you look at the different theme posters, so one of them sticks out in particular. I believe it's the Shield of Justice one.

Where it says like breaking illusions or something along those lines. And if you look at that, there's two shields, right? And it says in the commentary. Right. So two shield, one blocking the Bashi Channel, the other one blocking the Miyako Strait. Um, one I mean, it's a signal about choke points.

It actually kind of buttresses exactly what the national security strategy says about Taiwan.

REPORTER:  

For those living in Taiwan, life has mostly gone back to normal, with flights to outlying islands now back up and running. But the government and armed forces are hoping to use these latest drills as a lesson to keep a close eye on China’s next moves.

Alex Chen and Lery Hiciano, for TaiwanPlus.