According to an announcement by the island’s army, the high schools will continue the day after tomorrow, Thursday, with the participation of hundreds of soldiers and about 40 howitzers.
Taiwan’s armed forces today began live-fire artillery drills simulating the island’s defense in the event of a Chinese attack, amid large-scale Chinese military training centers in areas around it, an AFP reporter on the ground found.
Lou Wei-jie, a spokesman for Taiwan’s 8th Army, confirmed that the drills began in Pingtung County (southern) after 03:40 (GMT), with flares and mortar fire. They were to be completed at 04:30 (Greece time), he added.
Several hundred military personnel and approximately 40 howitzers participate in the high schools — which continue the day after tomorrow Thursday — the army clarified.
China last week launched its largest-ever military drills around Taiwan in response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island. She was the highest-ranking US official to visit Taipei in decades.
China considers Taiwan, of about 23 million people, which has its own autonomous government, a breakaway province destined to be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. The island has remained autonomous since the end of the civil war (1949).
Mr Low said yesterday that the exercises by Taiwan’s military were already planned, in other words they were not a reaction to the ongoing Chinese high schools.
The island’s armed forces regularly organize such exercises, such as last month, to repel attacks from the sea.
RES-EMP
Read the News today and get the latest news. Follow Skai.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news.
_130330.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1)
