Taiwan Condemns China's Military Drills, Calls Beijing a "Troublemaker"

Taipei Responds to PLA Exercises with Strong Condemnation, Accusing China of Escalating Tensions.

Taipei, April 1 – Taiwan's Presidential Office today issued a strong condemnation of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) for initiating joint military drills around Taiwan. The office labeled Beijing as a "troublemaker" following the exercises.

The Presidential Office stated it "strongly condemns" the PLA's military exercises, which China described as simulating an assault on Taiwanese targets, including maritime and ground objectives, as well as a blockade of key areas.

The office further stated that China continues to engage in "military provocations and gray-zone tactics" in the Taiwan Strait and the broader Indo-Pacific region. These activities, they claimed, "undermine regional security and stability." The office accused China of unilaterally escalating the regional situation and challenging the international order.

Speaking at the Legislature, Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) confirmed that the Ministry of National Defense (MND) had established a "response center" to monitor the PLA exercises. The MND has been tracking related PLA activities since March 29.

The MND reported detecting a Chinese naval fleet, led by the Shandong aircraft carrier, operating in Taiwan's vicinity on March 29. The fleet entered the country's reaction zone on Monday.

The reaction zone encompasses the area within the country's air defense identification zone between the Taiwan Strait median line and the easternmost boundary of Taiwan's "contiguous zone," extending 24 nautical miles from the country's shores. The MND responded to the threats by deploying military aircraft, vessels, and coastal missile systems.

Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration reported the detection of China Coast Guard vessels 14607 and 14517 approaching Dongyin Island, part of the Taiwan-controlled Matsu Islands, around the same time the PLA Eastern Theater Command issued a statement about the drills. The CGA dispatched vessels in response to these ships, which the China Coast Guard claimed were "conducting law enforcement patrols."

The MND, in its response, criticized the Chinese military, citing corruption issues and "false claims of its combat capabilities." They expressed confidence in their ability to protect the country against China's "gray zone activities" without escalating tensions.

Beijing framed the exercises as "a stern warning" against "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) criticized President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) for labeling Beijing as a "foreign hostile force" and announcing "17 strategies" aimed at addressing perceived threats from China in mid-March. The TAO characterized the exercises as "a firm punishment" for these actions, without specifying the duration of the exercises.

Lai's "17 major strategies" address what he describes as growing national security threats posed by China, including infiltration and espionage activities targeting the Taiwanese military and society.

In contrast to the government's strong stance, the Kuomintang (KMT), Taiwan's main opposition party, adopted a softer tone, urging "the other side [of the Taiwan Strait] to lay down its arms" due to the escalating hostility. The American Institute in Taiwan also condemned China's actions, stating that the intimidation tactics "exacerbate tensions and undermine cross-Strait peace and stability." They accused China of being an irresponsible actor that jeopardizes the region's security and prosperity.