Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has disclosed that China has secretly established a live-fire exercise zone in international waters close to Taiwan, doing so without any prior warning or notification. The area in question is situated approximately 40 nautical miles (74 kilometers or 46 miles) away from the coastlines of Kaohsiung and Pingtung County.
In a strong response, Taiwan condemned Beijing’s actions, accusing it of a “blatant violation of international norms” by unilaterally declaring the military drill zone, which raises significant concerns for international flights and maritime traffic. Under international law, there is an expectation for countries to inform vessels and aircraft of military exercises to mitigate the risk of accidents. However, Taiwan’s defense ministry reported that it became aware of the drill zone only through a brief radio communication between vessels in the area.
A spokesperson from Taiwan’s defense ministry stated, “This move not only poses a high risk to the navigation safety of international flights and ships at sea but is also a blatant provocation to regional security and stability.” In light of this development, Taiwan has mobilized its naval, air, and ground forces to monitor the vicinity of the newly designated live-fire zone.
Compounding the tensions, China has announced military exercises off Taiwan’s southern coast, coinciding with this incident. In recent days, Taiwan has detected at least 30 Chinese military aircraft and drones operating near its borders, with some reportedly engaging in joint combat drills alongside Chinese warships.
In the backdrop of these escalating events, a spokesperson from the US State Department affirmed that Washington is “closely monitoring” China’s latest provocative actions. The spokesperson reiterated the United States’ firm opposition to any unilateral alterations to the status quo and underscored the necessity for cross-Strait dialogue between Taiwan and China.
“China’s continued provocative actions around Taiwan are destabilizing and undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the region,” the spokesperson emphasized, adding, “We expect cross-Strait differences to be resolved by peaceful means, free from coercion, in a manner acceptable to people on both sides.”
