Taiwan says PLA drills will stay off its coast, monitors Chinese exercises

Taiwan's defence chief Wellington Koo told reporters that the island is closely tracking China's military drills slated for Oct. 12-17 and expects them to be held off China's coastline, involving only PLA artillery units. The Chinese Maritime Safety Administration earlier posted no-sail orders for five zones across the Yellow, East China, South China and Bohai seas. Taiwan's Maritime and Port Bureau noted that three of these zones lie outside Taiwanese waters, while the remaining two are within China's coastal waters, far from Taiwan.

So far, four PLA aircraft sorties have crossed Taiwan's median line, prompting the ROC armed forces to respond. Chinese defence spokesperson Chen Xi framed the exercises as a deterrent against "reckless" independence moves and foreign interference. Taiwan continues to ready its forces for any eventuality while observing the developments.