Taiwan launches 'combat drills'

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - Taiwan on Monday said it raised the alert level among its combat units after Taipei detected movement by the Chinese military around the island nation.

The Defense Ministry said in a statement that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had set up seven "air reserves zones” around eastern Fujian and Zhejiang provinces for a two-day period ending Wednesday.

It added the PLA had dispatched naval vessels, as well as coast guard boats, while Taipei initiated “combat readiness drills” and its military units on its outlying islands “heightened their vigilance.”

Beijing has yet to announce whether it plans any military drills.

Earlier, Taiwan had said it detected 10 PLA aircraft, seven PLA navy vessels, and three official ships operating around the island nation.

Taipei was expecting large-scale military drills by China in response to regional leader William Lai Ching-te’s first overseas trip which concluded last Friday.

​​​​​​​China considers Taiwan as its "breakaway province" while Taipei insists on its independence since 1949.