Taiwan war games focus on invasion amid tensions

Taiwan will simulate repelling an invading force, emergency repairs of a major air base and using civilianoperated drones as part of military exercises starting next week, the Defence Ministry said yesterday amid growing tensions with China.

Over the past year or so, China has ramped up military drills around selfruled and democratic Taiwan, including flying bombers and other military aircraft around the island.

China claims Taiwan as its sacred territory, and its hostility toward the island has grown since the 2016 election as president of Tsai Ing-wen from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party.

China has been issuing increasingly strident calls for Taiwan to toe the line, even as Tsai has pledged to maintain the status quo and keep the peace.

Taiwan’s annual Han Kuang drills, which start next week with a computer-aided command post exercise, do not make explicit mention of China, instead referring to “offensive forces invading Taiwan”.

The major part of it will be a livefire field training exercise from June 4-8, including “enemy elimination on beaches”, the ministry said. “Civilian resources will also be integrated into this exercise to support military operations,” it added.

Tech companies and building companies will be involved.

Taiwan is well equipped with mostly United States-made weaponry, but has been pushing for Washington to sell it more advanced equipment, including new fighter jets, to help it better deter its giant neighbour.

Military experts say the balance of power between Taiwan and China has now shifted decisively in China’s favour, and China could likely overwhelm the island unless US forces came quickly to Taiwan’s aid.

The US is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, but it is unclear whether Washington would want to be dragged into what would likely be a hugely destructive war with China over the island. — Reuters