China Calls Taiwan's Military Drills a 'Wasteful Charade'

China's Ministry of National Defense on Friday dismissed Taiwan's annual Han Kuang military exercises as a "wasteful charade" that incites "war panic." This marks the Chinese government's first official comment on the 10-day war games that commenced last week.

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The so-called 'Han Kuang exercise' has always been a posturing, wasteful charade.

Taiwan, a self-governing democracy that Beijing claims as its own territory, initiated the drills as China intensifies its military presence around the island. The exercises simulate various responses to a potential Chinese takeover, including methods to counter a maritime blockade and, for the first time, strategies for slowing down mobile internet services.

"The so-called 'Han Kuang exercise' has always been a posturing, wasteful charade," stated Chinese defense ministry spokesperson Chen Xi, as reported by Reuters. He added that Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party authorities "recklessly stoked war panic, accelerating efforts to turn cities into battlefields and push ordinary people to the front lines."

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The Democratic Progressive Party authorities have also recklessly stoked war panic, accelerating efforts to turn cities into battlefields and push ordinary people to the front lines.

Chen asserted that the People's Liberation Army remains on high alert, fully prepared, and continuously enhancing its real-combat capabilities to "counter separatism and external interference." He described this readiness as the "solid trump card for safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."

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This remains the solid trump card for safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

In response, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te wrote on Facebook that while the drills have concluded, the government's commitment to strengthening defense and societal resilience will persist. "The government, together with the national military and all citizens, will make every necessary preparation to safeguard our democratic and free way of life through our strength, and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," he stated. China maintains it prefers peaceful reunification but has not renounced the use of force, while Taiwan insists its future can only be decided by its people.

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The government, together with the national military and all citizens, will make every necessary preparation to safeguard our democratic and free way of life through our strength, and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.