Taiwan’s military launched a series of surface-to-air missiles in live-fire drills on Tuesday, a bold move aimed at showcasing its ability to defend against growing military pressure from China. The exercises took place at the Jiupeng Military Base in southern Taiwan, where Taiwan’s domestically-made Sky Bow III anti-ballistic missiles, US-made Patriot PAC II and Standard missiles were fired. The move is seen as a response to China’s increasing military threat, which has been escalating since the election of Taiwan’s new President Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing has labelled a separatist.
China claims Taiwan as its own territory, and has been ramping up its military presence in the region in recent years. Taiwan’s Defence Ministry has been boosting its deterrence capabilities in response, with missiles being a key part of its defence strategy. According to Defence Ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang, the missiles launched on Tuesday hit their targets, indicating the training was “very strict and solid.” The Defence Ministry has been warning of the growing threat from China, and is keen to demonstrate its ability to defend the island against any potential attack.
Tensions mount as Taiwan fires missiles in escalating standoff (Image via Getty)
In the 24 hours leading up to the exercises, Taiwan’s Defence Ministry spotted five Chinese military jets and 11 ships close to its shores. One aircraft even crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial demarcation zone between the two sides. The United States is closely monitoring the situation and has warned China against any aggression towards Taiwan. Taiwan’s military is significantly smaller than China’s, but it has been bolstering its defences by buying high-tech weaponry from the United States, revitalizing its domestic arms industry, and extending the length of mandatory military service from four months to one year.
The live-fire drills are seen as a demonstration of Taiwan’s commitment to defending its sovereignty, and a show of strength in the face of growing military pressure from China. As tensions continue to escalate, Taiwan’s military is likely to remain on high alert, ready to respond to any future threats from Beijing. Despite China’s failure to react immediately to Taiwan’s drills, the move is seen as a significant escalation of the stand-off between the two sides, and one that is likely to have far-reaching implications for the region.
