Taiwan says no live fire detected in Chinese drills

Record ID: 1987581

  • Title: Taiwan says no live fire detected in Chinese drills
  • Date: 1st April 2025
  • Summary: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (APRIL 1, 2025) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** TAIWAN DEFENCE MINISTRY’S SENIOR MINISTRY INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, HSIEH JIH-SHENG STANDING AT THE PODIUM, MAPS ON BOTH SIDES MAP SHOWING THE LOCATION OF CHINESE EXERCISE AROUND TAIWAN (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) TAIWAN DEFENCE MINISTRY’S SENIOR MINISTRY INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, HSIEH JIH-SHENG, SAYING
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: China Taiwan drills military
  • Location: TAIPEI, TAIWAN / AT SEA
  • City: TAIPEI, TAIWAN / AT SEA
  • Country: Taiwan
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Conflicts/War/Peace
  • Reuters ID: LVA001329001042025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Taiwan's defence ministry on Tuesday (April 1) said it had not detected any live fire by the Chinese military, but that at least 71 Chinese military aircraft and 13 navy ships were involved.
    It added it did not know when the drills would end.
    An official in the ministry closely monitoring the drills said Taiwan's armed forces had elevated their readiness level to ensure that China does not turn drills in to combat.
    The exercises, which China has not formally named unlike war games last year, are happening after a rise in Chinese rhetoric against Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te and follow on the heels of U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's Asia visit, during which he repeatedly criticized Beijing.
    China's military deployed ships, aircraft and artillery to practice blockading the island, strikes on ground and maritime targets, and air interception to "test forces' coordination in combat," Beijing's Eastern Theatre Command said in a statement.
    Defence Ministry spokesperson Sun Li-fang said the drills showed that China’s “insistence in resolving differences in opinions with force” and that “as an authoritarian country they believe bigger fists equal to power and justice.”
    (Production: Walid Berrazeg, Angie Teo)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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