It feels like I’ve only just started, and Jean calls from inside the house, telling me that it’s almost four, and that the kids are in their pajamas. It’s still early, but with every lock to check and entryway to reinforce, the hours evaporate faster than any of us like. The banging of my hammer echoes through the neighborhood, joining others tapping away during the preparation for sundown. I make sure to test the plywood boards over each of the windows, and when I feel one by the kitchen shift an inch, I reach for the hammer tucked into my waistband and a few extra nails in my pocket. The exercises will also feature joint drills with Taiwan’s air force on Wednesday.I’ve never gotten used to the sense of urgency of summer afternoons, that feeling of being drenched in the thickness of that still, blanketed heat, and trying to think of anything I’ve missed while checking the outside of the house. Troops also fired rounds from M109 howitzers and 105mm armoured vehicle assault guns, as well as Javelin anti-tank weapons that have proven highly effective against Russian armor in the Ukraine conflict, which some have likened to a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan. The exercises began with snipers firing at targets, followed by two Apaches blasting away at hillside targets. “We will not shy away from war but will not seek it out.” Jing Feng-huang told reporters at the site of the drills.
“We will continue to hold the attitude of being prepared for war,” Lt. Taiwan on Tuesday launched military exercises on the Hengchun Peninsula in the far south of the island, simulating ground warfare against an invading enemy aided by Apache attack helicopters. In response, China’s defence ministry accused Washington of “making trouble,” and demanded it withdraw the sale, which is likely to receive required approval from Congress. Another $355m was for Harpoon air-to-sea missiles and $85m for Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, the state department said. Last week the US Biden administration announced a $1.1bn arms sale to Taiwan, including a $655m logistics support package for Taiwan’s surveillance radar programme, which provides air defence warnings. Taiwan is set to increase its defence budget by 12.9%, bringing it to about 2.4% of GDP, as it increases its readiness for a Chinese attack or invasion. The shooting came shortly after Tsai ordered the military to take “strong countermeasures” against what she termed Chinese provocations.Īnti-drone defences are included in the defence budget for next year. Last week Taiwan’s defence ministry said soldiers had shot down a Chinese civilian drone after several days of drones flying over military posts on Kinmen Island. They were not initially reported by the Taiwan government, prompting some speculation that they had either not been detected, or that the ministry was not releasing the information. In recent months PLA drones to the east of Taiwan have been detected and publicly reported by Japan’s ministry of defence. It was the first time the flightpath of a drone had been revealed by the ministry. On Monday Taiwan’s ministry of defence said nine PLA aircraft had entered Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ), including a BZK-007 reconnaissance drone. It has since made near daily crossing over the median line – a previously rare act challenging the unofficial maritime border in the Taiwan Strait. Last month the People Liberation Army (PLA) intensified its intimidation of Taiwan by encircling the island with live-fire military drills.
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