Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has strongly condemned the sudden establishment of a military exercise zone by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) approximately 40 nautical miles off the coast of Kaohsiung and Pingtung in waters adjacent to Taiwan. The CCP has announced plans to conduct “shooting training” in this area. In response, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has deployed troops to monitor and remain vigilant, as well as released broadcast surveillance videos.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense on the afternoon of the 26th, starting from 8:42 a.m., a total of 32 sorties of various CCP Jian-11, KJ-500 aircraft, and drones were detected engaging in maritime activities, with 22 sorties crossing the median line, conducting what they called “joint combat readiness patrols” alongside CCP naval vessels. Additionally, during this period, the CCP unexpectedly designated an exercise zone in waters about 40 nautical miles off the coast of Kaohsiung and Pingtung, claiming they will conduct “shooting training.”
The Taiwan Ministry of National Defense emphasized that the CCP’s actions not only pose a significant danger to the safety of international flights and maritime vessels but also represent a blatant provocation to regional security and stability. At a time when the world is striving for peace, the CCP’s actions contradict its repeated claims of promoting “mutual respect,” “building prosperity,” and the principles of “peaceful coexistence.”
On the evening of the 26th, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense issued a press release stating that the CCP’s Eastern Theater Command Navy set up a temporary exercise zone in the southwestern waters of Taiwan, claiming they would conduct “shooting training.” The Taiwan military closely monitored the situation using reconnaissance aircraft, ships, and joint intelligence surveillance means, and by 3:40 p.m., the CCP maritime fleet departed from the “exercise area.”
Furthermore, on the evening of the 26th, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense also broadcast messages to CCP ships and released surveillance videos. The Taiwan Navy’s Keelung-class missile destroyer Suao ship (DDG-1802) broadcast a message to the CCP naval vessel Huanggang, urging them to cease their dangerous actions that violate the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, affecting maritime flight safety in Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone.
Today, on the 27th, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense released an illustration of the activities of the CCP entering the surrounding airspace near the Taiwan Strait. The CCP established an exercise area off the coast of Gaoping, measuring 70 nautical miles in length and 20 nautical miles in width, with seven main and auxiliary warships from the CCP navy operating in the area from 8:50 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. on the 26th.
On the morning of the 26th from 8:15 a.m. to 12:25 p.m., Taiwan’s military detected four sorties of CCP main and auxiliary combat aircraft in the northern airspace. Additionally, from 7:40 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., 21 sorties of CCP main and auxiliary combat aircraft and drones were spotted in the Taiwan Strait airspace, with 14 sorties crossing the median line into Taiwan’s southwestern and northern airspace.
Moreover, from 9:15 a.m. to 7:25 p.m., on the 26th, Taiwan’s military identified 20 sorties of CCP main and auxiliary combat aircraft, helicopters, and drones in the southwestern airspace, adjoining the exercise area.