Taiwan Remains Vigilant as China Conducts Military Drills: No Live-Fire Detected

MND Confirms PLA Exercises Part of Ongoing "Gray Zone" Tactics, Maintains High Alert

Taipei, April 1 - Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) has confirmed that the latest round of People's Liberation Army (PLA) joint military drills around Taiwan, commencing early Tuesday, are part of China's continuous "gray zone" harassment tactics. The MND reported that no live-fire exercises have been detected thus far.

In an emergency press briefing addressing the ongoing drills, which began at 7:30 a.m., the MND revealed the detection of 13 PLA naval vessels, four coast guard vessels, and 71 military aircraft operating around Taiwan as of Tuesday afternoon.

Lieutenant General Hsieh Jih-sheng (謝日升), head of the MND's Office of Deputy Chief of General Staff for Intelligence, stated that 36 of the 71 aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line during the exercises.

Hsieh also noted the presence of an 8-vessel-naval fleet, led by the Shandong aircraft carrier, operating in the Pacific Ocean approximately 220 nautical miles southeast of Cape Eluanbi in southern Taiwan.

Addressing reporters' inquiries about the proximity of the Chinese military, Hsieh clarified that no PLA warplanes or warships detected during the drills have entered Taiwan's contiguous zone, a region adjacent to its territorial sea and airspace extending 24 nautical miles from the coast.

Hsieh further added that Taiwan's armed forces have not yet observed any live-fire drills. He also stated that the military is unable to predict the duration of the PLA exercises.

The MND views the PLA's ongoing drills as part of China's long-term "gray zone" strategy targeting Taiwan.

"Gray zone" activities encompass ambiguous or unconventional methods used to achieve strategic goals without triggering open conflict.

Major General Tung Chi-hsing (董冀星), director of the joint operations planning division under the MND, announced at the same briefing that Taiwan's armed forces have established an ad hoc emergency operations center and deployed military aircraft, vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the PLA's announcement.

Taiwan's military is currently conducting patrols and monitoring Chinese troops, according to Tung.

The armed forces will adapt their combat readiness based on the evolving threat level posed by the PLA, he emphasized.

Earlier on Tuesday morning, the PLA's Eastern Theater Command announced the initiation of a new round of joint exercises around Taiwan, involving the army, navy, air, and rocket forces, aiming to "close in" on Taiwan from "multiple directions," as stated by PLA Eastern Command spokesperson Shi Yi (施毅).

China's Taiwan Affairs Office characterized the exercises as "a stern warning" to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

By 3 p.m., the PLA's Eastern Theater Command reported conducting drills in waters north, south, and east of Taiwan, involving "air interception, assault on maritime targets, strikes on ground objects, and joint blockade and control."

These drills are intended to test troop capabilities in integrated operations, seizing operational control, and multi-directional precision strikes, the theater command added.