Thu Jan 01 02:50:01 UTC 2026: Taiwanese Shrug Off Chinese Military Drills, Life Goes On

New Taipei City, Taiwan – As China conducted live-fire drills and simulated a blockade around Taiwan this week, many residents appeared unfazed, demonstrating a resilience born from years of living under the shadow of Beijing’s threats.

“Everyday life hasn’t been impacted,” said 70-year-old Liao, a retiree getting her hair done in New Taipei City. “I’ve lived in Taiwan for 70 years. I’m used to it.” Her hairstylist echoed the sentiment, stating that working people are too busy to pay attention to the drills.

While information about the exercises circulated widely on social media and news channels, life largely continued as normal. Disinformation, including a debunked propaganda video, also spread online.

China claims sovereignty over Taiwan and has vowed to unify the island with the mainland, by force if necessary. This week’s drills were described by Beijing as a response to a recent US arms package to Taiwan and a “warning” to Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te.

Despite the apparent calm, some Taiwanese residents acknowledge a growing sense of unease. Polling suggests a moderate increase in concern about a potential cross-strait war.

“We’ve become used to it, I think, a bit numb,” said Ms. Yeh, a flower shop owner. However, she added that the atmosphere felt different this time, and the drills seemed more serious.

Some residents expressed concerns about the Kuomintang’s (KMT) stance towards China. Wang, a university student, expressed worry and admitted that the current situation felt more realistic.

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