The Chinese PLA's on Saturday conducted 'realistic' combat-scenario in sea and air to the north, southwest and east of the island of Taiwan, focusing on testing the troops' land attack and sea assault capabilities, the PLA said in a press release.
During the drills, a destroyer conducted long-range missile strike simulations guilded by early warning aircraft. A frigate approached the coastline at high speed, and conducted mock anti-ship attacks, as well as anti-submarine warfare practices.
Earlier on Friday Taiwan scrambled its warplanes to 'escort' 49 Chinese warplanes besides using flares to drive away PLA drones that intruded into its Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Friday as part of Chinese air-naval 'exercise' that encircled the Island.
"Thirteen Chinese warships and 68 warplanes were as of 5pm yesterday operating in the Taiwan Strait, with some planes crossing the median line on the second day of four-day drills in retaliation for US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei," the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense said in a statement today.
Taiwan troops use flares against PLA drones
Taiwanese troops using flares drove Chinese drones away from over Kinmen County, the TMND said.
“Our government & military are closely monitoring China’s military exercises & information warfare operations, ready to respond as necessary,” President Tsai Ing-wen wrote on Twitter. “I call on the international community to support democratic Taiwan & halt any escalation of the regional security situation.”
Cyberattacks on Taiwanese government websites
Cyberattacks, blamed on Chinese hackers, targeted Taiwan government websites attemting to steal data, slow down traffic, block web sites or change their content, but all attempts had been denied, Taiwan media reported.