Taiwan to Initiate 'Immediate Response' Military Exercises Against China

Synopsis

Taiwan is set to begin a new series of 'immediate response' military drills on March 17, targeting China's grey zone tactics. The five-day exercises will involve all military branches and aim to enhance combat readiness against potential threats.

Key Takeaways

Taiwan's military drills commence on March 17.
Exercises are in response to China's grey zone warfare.
All branches of the military will participate.
Drills aim to enhance combat readiness and prevent sabotage.
Focus on responses to grey zone activities for 2025.

Taipei, March 12 (NationPress) Taiwan is preparing to launch a series of "immediate response" military drills starting on March 17, lasting for five days, according to local media reports.

The exercises will engage all branches of Taiwan's defense forces as a countermeasure to China's grey zone warfare, as stated by the state-run Central News Agency, citing military insiders.

The drills are planned to be comprehensive, with military personnel assigned to their designated defensive positions, although further details were not disclosed.

The armed forces will maintain a state of high alert throughout the five-day period, with these drills serving as a preparatory phase for the annual Han Kuang exercises scheduled for this year, according to Taipei Times.

These military operations, set for next week, aim to thwart any attempts by China to disrupt the nation's submarine cables, as reported by a defense official on Tuesday.

Previously, a Chinese cargo vessel under a foreign flag was apprehended on allegations of severing a cable connecting Taiwan to Penghu County.

Last week, Taiwanese Defence Minister Wellington Koo informed the press that Beijing might employ military drills to mask a military buildup ahead of a potential invasion.

In reaction to persistent grey zone harassment and to address threats from Chinese vessels, the military will conduct "immediate combat readiness exercises".

Koo further indicated that Taiwan’s Han Kuang military exercises for 2025 aim to enhance the military's capabilities for joint combat operations, adjusting the response according to perceived threats from China's activities.

The focus of Taiwan's largest annual military exercises in 2025 will include countermeasures to "grey zone" activities, which are provocative or hostile actions that do not escalate to open conflict, while also enhancing defense resilience.

Grey zone activities involve ambiguous or unconventional tactics aimed at achieving strategic goals without overtly entering into armed conflict. The Taiwan Strait has become a hotspot for China's grey zone strategies, including intentional disruptions to subsea cables.

For years, Taiwan's annual Han Kuang military exercises have evaluated the military's readiness against a potential Chinese invasion. These drills typically include extensive live-fire demonstrations, with the President and top military officials overseeing high-profile missile launches and anti-amphibious landing exercises, as reported by Taipei Times.