Wed Feb 26 07:33:41 UTC 2025: ## China Conducts Unscheduled Military Drills Near Taiwan, Sparking Condemnation
**Taipei, February 26, 2025** – Taiwan’s Defence Ministry has strongly condemned China for conducting unscheduled military drills, including “shooting training,” approximately 40 nautical miles off its southwest coast. The ministry denounced the action as a dangerous provocation.
The drills, which began shortly before 9 a.m. local time, involved 32 Chinese military aircraft and warships engaged in a joint combat readiness exercise in the Taiwan Strait. The ministry highlighted the violation of international norms, citing the lack of prior notification for the establishment of the drill zone near Kaohsiung and Pingtung.
Taiwan’s Defence Ministry expressed concern that the drills endanger international flights and shipping, further destabilizing regional peace and stability. They deployed their own forces to monitor the situation. China has yet to officially confirm the drills. This incident marks the latest escalation in ongoing tensions between China and Taiwan, with similar large-scale military exercises occurring over the past three years.
First Piper 