Tanks on streets of Taiwan as military drills launched in show of strength to Beijing

Taiwan began five days of military exercises on Monday aimed at strengthening its readiness to face a potential Chinese attack.

In the city of Taoyuan, home to the island’s largest international airport, tanks and armoured vehicles rumbled on the roads and highways as part of combat readiness patrols by the army’s 269th Infantry Brigade.

The drills are designed to test how quickly the military can mobilise to counter possible escalation of Chinese “grey zone” activities, which are coercive actions such as naval patrols and drone incursions that stop short of open conflict.

Taiwan’s defence ministry said the exercises would emphasise “real-time, live-fire and on-site” training scenarios.

The drills are meant to simulate what may happen before enemy forces launch their ships, according to Taiwan’s semi-official Central News Agency.

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The Chinese military sent 23 aircraft towards Taiwan from Sunday into Monday morning, the island’s defence ministry said, adding that they were accompanied by seven naval ships and five other vessels.

China sends warplanes, drones and naval ships towards the island on an almost daily basis.

Taiwan regularly conducts combat readiness drills as it seeks to bolster its defence capabilities in response to ongoing military pressure from China, which considers the self-governed island as its sovereign territory and does not rule out the use of force to reunify it with the mainland.

Taiwan fired rockets in China’s direction earlier in June for the first time as part of a military exercise.

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Last week, Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te said he remained hopeful that Donald Trump would approve $14bn in arms sales to Taiwan, despite the American president’s recent comments suggesting military support for the island could be used by Washington as a bargaining tool in negotiations with China.

Mr Lai sought to reassure the public about Taiwan’s relationship with Washington after Mr Trump’s remarks raised concerns about America’s commitment to the island’s security.

“President Trump’s arms sales for Taiwan have basically met Taiwan’s needs and so we also have high hopes about these upcoming arms sales,” he said when he was asked about the $14bn package the US president was sitting on.

“I’m confident that after the US government conducts a detailed review, it can be passed.”