TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense said on Monday that it has heightened its state of alert and launched combat readiness drills in response to China's announcement of nearby restricted zones as part of large-scale military exercises.
The PLA announced seven restricted airspace zones east of Zhejiang and Fujian from Monday to Wednesday, the MND said. The ministry activated its response center and directed all military units to remain alert to monitor the PLA's disposition.
The military is tracking military ship formations from the PLA's Eastern, Northern, and Southern Theater Commands and coast guard vessels. It said these ships have entered the Taiwan Strait and the Western Pacific region to conduct long-range offshore operations and other activities.
The MND said the military and troops on the outer islands are coordinating with the Coast Guard Administration to respond to the Chinese vessels.
Following the PLA's announcement of exercises, the ministry has also initiated combat readiness drills. The exercises are conducted at tactical positions based on the PLA's threat level, weather, and other conditions.
The ministry emphasized that “any unilateral, irrational provocative actions could severely undermine peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and are not welcomed by the international community.” It said recent Chinese military activities around Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Taiwan “have already introduced risk factors of instability to the region.”
The MND pledged the military will neither escalate nor instigate disputes and properly respond to gray-zone intrusions.
