China's military executed simulated precision strikes against Taiwan during a second day of exercises surrounding the island on Sunday. Taiwan's defense ministry reported numerous air force sorties, as well as monitoring of China's missile forces. China, which considers Taiwan its own territory, initiated the three-day military exercises around the island after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen returned from a brief visit to the United States.
Chinese state television announced that the combat readiness patrols and drills around Taiwan were ongoing. The Chinese military's Eastern Theatre Command released a short animation on its WeChat account, illustrating missiles launched from land, sea, and air into Taiwan, with two exploding upon hitting their targets. A security source told Reuters that China has been conducting simulated air and sea attacks on "foreign military targets" in waters off Taiwan's southwestern coast.
The Taiwan defense ministry stated that as of 0800 GMT on Sunday, 70 Chinese aircraft, including Su-30 fighters and H-6 bombers, along with 11 ships, had been spotted around Taiwan. The ministry is closely monitoring the People's Liberation Army's Rocket Force, responsible for China's land-based missile system, and is maintaining a high state of alert. Taiwan's forces have reiterated that they will "not escalate conflicts nor cause disputes" and will respond "appropriately" to China's exercises.
According to the security source, about 20 military ships are engaged in a stand-off near the Taiwan Strait's median line, with half coming from Taiwan and half from China. The Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong is conducting drills more than 400 nautical miles off Taiwan's southeast coast. Zhao Xiaozhuo of China's Academy of Military Sciences told the Chinese state-backed Global Times that this marks the first time China has openly discussed simulated attacks on targets in Taiwan. Key targets would include infrastructure such as runways, military logistics facilities, and mobile targets.
Life in Taiwan continues as usual, with no signs of disruption or panic due to the Chinese drills. The de facto US embassy in Taiwan, the American Institute in Taiwan, announced on Sunday that the US is closely monitoring China's drills and is "comfortable and confident" in its regional resources and capabilities to maintain peace and stability. The US has consistently urged restraint and no change to the status quo, with communication channels with China remaining open.
Washington is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, despite severing diplomatic relations with Taipei in favor of Beijing in 1979. China has never renounced the use of force to assert control over Taiwan, and tensions between the countries have escalated in recent years.
