Source : Perth Now news
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has overseen coastal strike drills during annual war games, boarding a fast-attack missile boat and watching the deployment of low-flying attack drones to simulate defending a Chinese assault.
Taiwan kicked off the Han Kuang exercises on Wednesday.
The 10-day drills focus on Taiwan’s combat readiness against a potential invasion by China, which regards the democratically governed island as its territory and has vowed to bring it under its control, by force if necessary.
Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.
Lai boarded a fast-attack missile boat at a navy base in the southern city of Kaohsiung, from where he broadcast a message to the sailors taking part.
“The purpose of the Han Kuang exercise is to use live troops, live terrain and live equipment to test command co-ordination, combat responsiveness and homeland defence capabilities,” he said.
In the face of “external threats and challenges”, the government would continue to strengthen defence capabilities, giving the military and coast guard the greatest support, Lai said, without directly mentioning China.
“I also hope that everyone will respond actively during the exercise and strengthen co-ordination and mutual understanding, so that you can respond to all kinds of situations and safeguard national sovereignty and the safety of the people with solid combat power.”
Lai then watched as small, low-flying attack drones swarmed over the beach and sea.
One of the coast guard’s new Anping-class catamarans also participated, given the coast guard would be pressed into service to support the navy in time of war.
The Anping ships are based on the navy’s highly manoeuvrable Tuo Chiang fast-attack warships, dubbed by Taiwan’s military the “aircraft carrier killer” for their complement of anti-ship missiles.
Lai watched missile launchers being installed on an Anping-class coast guard ship on Thursday.
China views Lai as a “separatist” and has rejected his repeated offers of talks.
