TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) on Wednesday (March 27) warned Taiwan about “provoking trouble” with its upcoming live-fire drills to be held on Kinmen.
During a press conference, a reporter asked TAO spokesperson Chen Binhua (陳斌華) about Taiwan’s plans to hold live-fire drills on the outlying islands of Kinmen in April. The reporter said the Taiwan military had described the drills as “routine” and would not target any specific entity.
In response, Chen said that whether these exercises are truly “routine” or constitute “targeted” provocations, the Democratic Progressive Party authorities are “well aware in their hearts.” Chen said that the people of Kinmen have experienced the transition between peace and war, and they increasingly cherish peace and oppose war.
“They have made the right choice between firing artillery and building bridges,” said Chen. The TAO spokesperson said China will closely monitor the movements of Taiwanese troops in Kinmen.
“If they provoke trouble and dare to act rashly, they will surely fail,” warned Chen.
Starting on April 2, the Army’s Kinmen Defense Command will hold live-fire drills on Kinmen’s outer islands of Lieyu, Menghu, and Houyu. The drills will consist of several ground-to-sea live-fire exercises with trajectories ranging from 1,000 feet (305 meters) to 6,600 feet concluding on April 25.
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