Taiwan stages defence drills as China ends naval exercises with Indonesia

Taiwan staged military defence drills on Wednesday as China concluded joint naval exercises with Indonesia in waters east of the island.

Taiwanese forces simulated a bridge-denial operation designed to strengthen defences around the capital, Taipei.

Soldiers erected metal barricades, barbed-wire obstacles and concrete Jersey barriers on roads leading to the Guangfu Bridge, which connects Taipei with New Taipei City. Buses were also repurposed as makeshift roadblocks.

Taiwanese forces simulated combat and emergency medical operations, using smoke canisters and flashes to recreate wartime conditions.

Chieh Chung, a researcher at Taiwan’s Institute for National Defence and Security Research, said the bridge-denial exercises simulated measures the military could take in the event of a Chinese invasion.

“The objective [of the simulation], of course, is to prevent the PLA [People’s Liberation Army] from using them to move rapidly into Taipei. I believe the military's plans would also include demolishing these bridges, if necessary, ensuring that the PLA would not be able to use them to cross the river quickly and continue its advance."

Chinese-Indonesia conclude naval drills

The Chinese and Indonesian navies, meanwhile, completed joint exercises in waters east of Taiwan on Wednesday morning.

The drills drew criticism from Taiwan, which accused China of creating a false impression that Beijing had jurisdiction over the waters.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council described the activities as a "military provocation" and demanded that Beijing"immediately stop" its "dangerous" behaviour.

China characterised the drills as a “navigation exercise,” while Indonesia’s navy said the activities were routine.

Jakarta’s military spokesperson Tunggul said the exercises were a "universal naval tradition conducted when transiting through another country's maritime area.”

The drills marked the first time Beijing had conducted such an operation with a foreign military in the waters.

China maintains claim over Taiwan

China views Taiwan as part of its territory and does not recognise sovereignty claims made byTaiwan’s government.

In June, the Chinese coast guard began patrols off the island's east coast, prompting anger in Taipei and concern in Washington.

Like most countries, Indonesia has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but the island is home to more than 300,000 Indonesian migrant workers.

Taiwan's government says that only the Taiwanese people can decide their future, and it has repeatedly denounced Chinese military pressure.

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