Taiwan held an artillery drill on Tuesday simulating defence against an attack as its top diplomat accused Beijing of preparing to invade the island after days of massive Chinese war games.
China launched its largest-ever air and sea exercises around Taiwan last week
, the highest-ranking American official to visit the self-ruled island in decades.
“China has used the drills in its military playbook to prepare for the invasion of Taiwan,” foreign minister Joseph Wu told a press conference in Taipei on Tuesday, accusing Beijing of using Ms Pelosi’s visit as a pretext for military action.
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“China’s real intention is to alter the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and entire region.”
Taiwan’s military held a live-fire drill to simulate defence of the country against a possible Chinese invasion. Source: AAP / EPA / Ritchie B. Tongo
The Chinese military said its Taiwan drills continued on Tuesday and involved air and sea units.
The Eastern Theater command of the People’s Liberation Army said in a statement that it was conducting training exercises around the island, “focusing on joint blockade and joint support operations”.
Taipei’s drill in the southern county of Pingtung included the firing of target flares and artillery, lasting just under an hour, said Lou Woei-jye, spokesman for Taiwan’s Eighth Army Corps.
Soldiers fired from howitzers tucked into the coast, hidden from view of the road that leads to popular beach destination Kenting.
The drills, which will also take place on Thursday, included the deployment of hundreds of troops and about 40 howitzers, the army said.
Tuesday’s exercise attracted a crowd of onlookers.
“We need to have some countermeasures against mainland China’s blockade,” said one of the spectators, who only gave his surname Chen.
“Conducting military drills will also let them know Taiwan is prepared. I hope both sides can have some restraint.”
On Monday, spokesman Lou told AFP the drills were previously scheduled and were not in response to China’s exercises.
The island routinely stages military drills simulating defence against a Chinese invasion.
