Taiwan president warns China's military drills threaten stability
Explosive barrels placed by the Taiwanese military are seen in the Tamsui River, as part of a series of emergency combat readiness drills, Wednesday, in response to China conducting Justice Mission 2025 military drills around Taiwan. Reuters-Yonhap
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te warned on Wednesday that China’s military exercises around Taiwan are part of a broader pattern and pose a threat to regional stability.
"Recently, from areas around Japan to the South China Sea, and now through incursions targeting Taiwan, China's authoritarian expansion and escalating coercion have brought significant uncertainty and risk to regional stability, while also affecting global shipping, trade and peace," Lai said at a general officer promotion and rank conferment ceremony.
Lai said that in recent days China has carried out military exercises in the sea and airspace surrounding Taiwan. Taiwan's armed forces responded swiftly, showcasing their rapid reaction, flexible tactics and blockade-countering capabilities, he added.
China's People's Liberation Army launched surprise military drills, named Justice Mission 2025, around Taiwan on Monday. Despite international criticism, the exercises continued on Tuesday, with some of the 27 test rockets fired landing within Taiwan's 24-nautical-mile contiguous zone.
The PLA has yet to announce an end date for the drills. Taiwan's Defence Ministry said on Wednesday morning that it tracked 77 PLA aircraft sorties and 17 PLA vessels near Taiwan on Tuesday.
Taiwan's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday expressed gratitude to the European Union, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and other like-minded partners for issuing statements of serious concern over China’s recent military exercises, which have unilaterally heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
In Taiwan, Karsten Tietz, director general of the German Institute Taipei, said on Wednesday on social media that China’s military exercises increase tensions and undermine stability in the Taiwan Strait.
"Any change to the status quo must occur only peacefully and by mutual agreement. The German federal government calls for restraint and dialogue," Tietz said.
China severed all official communication with Taiwan in June 2016, a month after former president Tsai Ing-wen of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party assumed office. Since taking office in 2024, President Lai has signalled a willingness to expand dialogue with China despite ongoing cross-strait tensions.
Democratic Taiwan, home to 23.4 million people, has maintained self-rule since 1949. China views the island as part of its territory and has repeatedly threatened to annex it.