The Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Tuesday denied a report that China was planning military exercises near Taiwan in March, saying it has found no signs of “targeted military action” planned for that time.
Foreign media citing unnamed Taiwanese senior officials reported before Saturday’s election that Beijing might be planning to conduct military exercises near Taiwan in March to exert pressure on the new president.
Regarding the report, ministry intelligence officer Colonel Huang Ming-chieh (黃明傑) said that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) would continue using regular patrols and “gray zone” activities to exert pressure on Taiwan.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
After the weather improves in March, the military would keep a close watch on planned and unplanned PLA movements, Huang said.
However, the military “has not identified any targeted military activity planned for March,” he said.
There has been no unusual targeted military activity in or around the Taiwan Strait since the election, he added.
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