Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has claimed that China secretly established a live-fire exercise zone in international waters near Taiwan, without any prior notice or warning.
The designated military area is located about 40 nautical miles (74 kilometers/46 miles) off the coasts of Kaohsiung and Pingtung County.
The island nation condemned Beijing’s actions, accusing it of “blatantly violating international norms” by unilaterally declaring the drill zone, which could pose risks to international flights and maritime traffic.
Under international law, countries are generally required to notify vessels and aircraft of military exercises to avoid accidents.
The defense ministry stated that it only learned about the drill zone through a brief radio transmission between the two sides in the area.
“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,” the ministry stated.
In response, Taiwan’s military deployed naval, air, and ground forces to monitor the area surrounding the newly established live-fire zone.
US ‘Closely Monitoring’ Developments
The creation of the shooting zone coincides with China’s announcement of planned military exercises off Taiwan’s southern coast.
In the same week, Taiwan reported the detection of at least 30 Chinese military aircraft and drones operating near its borders, some reportedly participating in joint combat drills with Chinese warships.
In the wake of these developments, a US State Department spokesperson confirmed that Washington is “closely monitoring” China’s latest provocative actions.
The spokesperson reiterated the US’ firm opposition to any unilateral changes to the status quo and emphasized the need for cross-Strait dialogue between Taiwan and China.
“China’s continued provocative actions around Taiwan are destabilizing and undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the region,” the spokesperson said.
“We expect cross-Strait differences to be resolved by peaceful means, free from coercion, in a manner acceptable to people on both sides.”
