Taiwan on Alert: Chinese War Games and Potential Blockades

Taiwan's Defence Minister, Wellington Koo, highlights the serious implications of China's military drills simulating blockades around Taiwan, considered an act of war under international law. Such actions threaten global trade, particularly through the Taiwan Strait, prompting Taiwan to prepare with increased energy reserves and international diplomatic efforts.

Taiwan's Defence Minister, Wellington Koo, has sounded the alarm over China's recent military exercises simulating blockades around Taiwan, labeling them a potential act of war. He emphasized the severe impact such actions would have on global trade, especially given the strategic significance of the Taiwan Strait.

The exercises, dubbed 'Joint Sword-2024B,' saw Chinese forces engage in drills that included blockading ports and targeting objects on land and sea. Minister Koo addressed reporters at Taiwan's parliament, stressing that these actions go beyond routine drills, crossing into territory defined as acts of war under United Nations resolutions when executed.

In response to the threat, Taiwan is sharpening its strategies, including bolstering liquefied natural gas stocks and preparing decommissioned coal plants as backup power sources. Meanwhile, the international community, particularly allies like the United States, remains vigilant, challenging Beijing's jurisdiction claims over the Taiwan Strait through regular naval operations.

(With inputs from agencies.)