Taipei: The approach of Typhoon Gaemi led to the cancellation of air force drills off the east coast of Taiwan on Tuesday, while naval and land exercises were set to proceed in other areas of the autonomous island democracy, which is under threat of invasion by China.
The cancellation was announced by the Air Force 5th Tactical Mixed Wing due to the adverse weather conditions.
The Central Weather Bureau reported that Typhoon Gaemi was moving westward towards the island, with sustained winds of 144 kilometres (90 miles) per hour and gusts up to 180 kilometres (110 miles) per hour. Consequently, ferries and some local flights were cancelled on Tuesday, as reported by Taiwan’s Central News Agency.
Military spokesperson Sun Li-fang stated that the annual Han Kuang military drills would continue with necessary adjustments for the safety of personnel and equipment, although some maritime and aerial exercises would be modified because of the weather.
Following the election of Lai Cheng-te as president, this year’s exercises continue the Democratic Progressive Party’s near-decade-long governance, which opposes Beijing’s insistence on recognizing Taiwan as part of China.
Taiwan’s military, traditionally supported by the United States, has recently revitalized its domestic defence industry, producing submarines and training aircraft to complement advanced weapon systems acquired from overseas.
Additionally, Taipei and nearby areas conducted a routine air raid drill on Tuesday afternoon, with sirens blaring, vehicles stopping, and people vacating the streets to take shelter in buildings and subway stations, simulating the response to an air assault from China or a natural calamity.
Furthermore, troops were stationed at the port of Tamsui, a strategic access point to Taipei’s river system, which was recently entered by a Chinese motorboat undetected by radar and other security systems, raising concerns about Taiwan’s ability to counter covert operations by the Chinese military.
