WW3 fears grow as Taiwan plans biggest ever war game to prepare for China attack
Taiwan is set to hold its largest ever war games exercise in a bid to test out whether it is ready for a potential conflict with China.
Tensions in the region are rising, with China claiming sovereignty over the self-ruled island. It has also sparked tensions between China and western nations.
Taiwan's live-fire military exercise will involve all branches of the force and will be staged for five days from September 13.
It will feature simultaneous air, sea and land drills as tensions ramp up, the South China Morning Post reports.
Major General Lin Wen-huang, director of the defence ministry's operations and planning office, said: "A test of emergency take-offs and landings of fighter jets on the Jiadong wartime runway – a major element of the exercise – will be conducted as planned."
Warplanes will for the first time test emergency take-offs and landings, while the drill will simulate a scenario in which Taiwan's military and civilian airports are seriously damaged by enemy fire, leading to jets landing on the highway.
Ministry spokesman Major General Shih Shun-wen declined to comments on reports that Japan planned to deploy missile units on Ishigaki Island, just 300km off the coast of Taiwan, to counter China's growing naval presence in the area and defend against a potential Chinese attack.
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General Shih said: "We will do our best to ensure our combat readiness and safeguard our national security.
"We will also work with like-minded countries to continue to strengthen military exchanges and cooperation in order to increase our defence capability and ensure stability in the Taiwan Strait and peace in the region."
War fears are growing with tensions over Taiwan rising during 2021.
Taiwan has been self-governing since just after the Second World War, but China has sought to assert sovereignty over the island this year to mark the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party.
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Last month China's president Xi Jinping warned foreign nations will "get their heads bashed bloody" if they attempt to interfere with the country's plans for Taiwan.
He reaffirmed the country's "unbreakable commitment" to unifying Taiwan, adding he would "fulfil the Chinese dream of great national rejuvenation".
The US and Japan have both been critical of China's plans for Taiwan.
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