Breaking silence on possible drills, China says it will not be soft on Taiwan’s independence activities By Reuters

By Joe Cash and Ben Blanchard

BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) – China’s defense ministry broke its silence on days of military activity around Taiwan on Friday, saying it was up to China to decide whether to hold drills and that the military “will not be absent” in the fight against separatist forces.

Taiwan’s defense ministry on Monday went on alert and activated an emergency center after reporting a large increase in Chinese military activity, both around the island and more widely in the East and South China Seas.

The Chinese military has not announced any drills. Beijing views democratically-governed Taiwan as its territory – a claim rejected by the government in Taipei, which says only the Taiwanese people can decide their future.

In a statement in response to a question about Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s recent visits to Hawaii and the US territory of Guam and whether or not China held drills, China’s defense ministry offered neither confirmation nor denial, although it quoted ancient Chinese military tactician Sun. Tzu.

“Just as water does not retain a constant shape, so there are no constant conditions in war,” says the ministry, a Suna term meaning that war conditions are unpredictable and constantly changing.

“Whether and when we will hold exercises or not, it is up to us to decide according to our own needs and the combat situation,” it added.

“Regardless of whether the exercises are held or not, the People’s Liberation Army will not be absent and will not be soft in the fight against independence and for reunification.”

Any reliance on “foreign independence-seeking forces” – a common wording used by China to warn the United States against supporting Taiwan – will be severely punished and “doomed to failure”, the ministry added.

China has so far staged two rounds of war games over Taiwan this year, most recently in October, reacting to Lai’s National Day by saying they were a warning against “separatist acts” and vowing to take further action if necessary.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said on Friday that China’s threat to the island has evolved since 2022, when it began staging the current round of war games, from “deterring Taiwan” to “influencing the First Island Chain”, an area stretching from Japan. to Taiwan, along the Chinese coast and into the South China Sea.

“China’s long-term goal of deterring regional parties and disrupting the rules-based international order will not be supported by the international community,” the statement said.

Security sources expected China to hold exercises to coincide with Lai’s trip to the US, as well as to send a warning to the incoming Trump administration about China’s red lines.

On Thursday, the de facto US embassy in Taiwan said that Chinese military activity in the region is currently elevated, but that it does not see that broader activity in response to Lai’s visit to the US.

Later that day, Taiwan’s defense ministry said it had disbanded its emergency response center, signaling the end of the current round of Chinese military activities.

The ministry said on Friday morning that it had observed only 12 Chinese military aircraft operating in the vicinity in the past 24 hours, down from 34 reported the previous day.

Taiwan’s coast guard also said on Friday that nine Chinese coast guard vessels stationed near the island’s southeast and southwest coasts headed north after engaging in “unjustified” activities in recent days.

Taiwan’s coast guard has released pictures and videos of its ships escorting Chinese vessels off the island’s east coast in rough seas and under gray skies.