China Unleashes Rocket Fire During Drills Near Taiwan
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command's ground units executed the rocket launches in waters north of Taiwan during morning operations, command spokesperson Li Xi confirmed through state media. Li stated the drills achieved their "desired effects."
Military operations expanded throughout Tuesday with assault exercises targeting maritime positions alongside anti-aircraft and anti-submarine maneuvers conducted north and south of the island. Chinese destroyers, frigates, fighter aircraft, and bomber squadrons performed coordinated strikes simulating attacks on sea-based targets while conducting defensive air and underwater warfare drills.
The exercises evaluated combined sea-air tactical coordination and comprehensive blockade capabilities, theater command officials reported. Combat footage posted by China Military Bugle—the official PLA presence on X, the social platform owned by a US company—displayed Chinese troops launching rockets with heavy armaments.
Taiwan's Defense Ministry confirmed the Chinese military's live ammunition drill impacts occurred within the island's 24-nautical-mile boundary.
Beijing initiated the military exercises Monday as a warning against foreign involvement in Taiwan, following Washington's authorization of an unprecedented $11 billion weapons package to Taipei just days earlier.
'Taiwan won't provoke confrontation'
Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te declared Tuesday that Beijing "has continued to escalate military tension in the region, which is not the behavior of a responsible world power," Taiwanese media reported.
"Taiwan will not provoke a confrontation, nor seek conflict with China," he added.
Defense officials documented 130 PLA aircraft, 14 naval warships, and eight government vessels operating around Taiwan through 6 a.m. local time (2200GMT Monday), according to ministry statements on X.
"90 out of 130 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, central, southwestern and eastern ADIZ (air defense identification zone). We monitored the situation, responded," the statement added.
Defense Minister Wellington Koo warned Tuesday that Beijing's operations "threaten regional stability and civilian traffic." Taiwanese military authorities announced: "Parts of all five of the drill zones designated by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) for live-fire drills Tuesday are within Taiwan's territorial waters."
Civilian aviation suffered significant disruption as media reported approximately 941 flights throughout Taiwan experienced operational impacts.
Taiwan denounced a Chinese surveillance drone that filmed Taipei's cityscape as psychological warfare tactics, Taiwanese media reported, citing ministry sources.
Monday saw the PLA publish aerial drone footage on its official X account capturing the iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper.
"So close, so beautiful, go to Taipei at any time …" the post stated.
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