Beijing carries out anti-submarine, sea assault drills around Taiwan

The People’s Liberation Army continues exercises around the island in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit last week

Taiwan’s defence ministry says it will handle the situation proactively and won’t retreat in response to the extended drills

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A soldier looks through binoculars during PLA Navy combat exercises and training in the waters around Taiwan on Friday. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 12:55pm, 8 Aug 2022Updated: 3:50am, 9 Aug 2022

The PLA staged anti-submarine and sea assault operations around Taiwan on Monday after 72 hours of unprecedented live-fire exercises that analysts said were intended to normalise such activities east of the Taiwan Strait’s median line.

The People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theatre Command said the joint drills were continuing in the waters and airspace around Taiwan.

It was not clear if the danger zones Beijing had designated for the drills – which supposedly lapsed at noon on Sunday – were back in force on Monday because the PLA did not officially declare the end of the war games.

Unlike its notices from Thursday to Sunday, the PLA’s daily announcement on Monday did not refer to the military conducting exercises “according to plan”.

The foreign ministry in Beijing said the PLA was conducting normal military exercises in its “own waters” in an open, transparent and professional manner. Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin also said the drills complied with domestic and international law.

In Taiwan, the transport ministry said air and marine traffic were gradually returning to normal.

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