News / China

Taiwan conducts military drills

Tuesday, 19 January 2021 6:15 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 19 January 2021 6:15 PM ]

Taiwanese troops stay behind armed vehicles during a drill in Hsinchu military base, ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday, on January 19, 2021. (Photo by AFP)

Taiwan has conducted military drills in presumed preparation for potential military attacks.

Taiwanese forces took part in military exercises at the Hukou army base south of Taipei on Tuesday.

Small arms, mortars, and tanks were used in the drills presumably aimed at increasing the readiness of Taiwanese forces against potential attacks.

Taiwan is a self-ruled territory subject to Chinese sovereignty. But it has been defying Beijing under its current government, and the United States has been courting Taipei in an attempted affront to China and in violation of the "One China" policy, under which all countries — the United States included — officially recognize Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan.

Earlier in January, the outgoing administration of US President Donald Trump lifted the decades-long ban on diplomatic ties with Taiwanese officials in a last-ditch effort to further challenge China’s sovereignty over Taiwan.

US ends decades-old restrictions on diplomatic ties with Taiwan

The US lifts restrictions on official contacts with Taiwan to further challenge China

Last week, the Trump administration declassified secret US foreign policy in regard to China aimed at countering Beijing's growing power by enabling Taiwan — with a population of less than 0.02 percent of the mainland — to "develop an effective asymmetric defense strategy and capabilities that will help ensure its security, freedom from coercion, resilience, and ability to engage China on its own terms."

China has repeatedly warned the US against official ties with Taiwan. Beijing has also slapped sanctions on a number of US officials over official contacts with separatist Taiwanese officials.

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