A senior Taiwan official revealed on Wednesday that China's military simulates foreign naval vessels being attacked in the Taiwan Strait, and Taiwan shares information with international partners who operate in these waters.

China, which claims democratically-governed Taiwan as its territory, asserts that it is the only country to exercise sovereignty and jurisdiction in the Strait. The strait is a major shipping route used by about half of container ships around the world.

However, both the United States of America and Taiwan claim that the Strait is a waterway international.

Every few months U.S. warships transit the strait, provocating Beijing. Some U.S. allies such as Britain, Canada and Australia have also done so on occasion. Last month, a New Zealand navy vessel passed through the strait.

Eight Navys make a dozen trips this year

Tsai Mi-yen, the director-general of Taiwan's National Security Bureau, said that eight countries, including Britain, France, New Zealand, and the United States have made 12 trips across the strait this year.

In response to lawmakers' questions, he stated that China's principle was to "shadow" every ship during such missions by sending its own navy.

Tsai continued, "They will also sometimes mobilize air forces to simulate attacks, as the legislator mentioned, in order to demonstrate military presence and claim authority in the Taiwan Strait."

Taiwan's radar and surveillance system is sophisticated and extensive.

The Chinese defence ministry didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. China denounces these sailings regularly as provocation.

Share Intelligence

Tsai stated that Taiwan and its international partners share intelligence including information about Chinese military activities while foreign navy vessels are in the Strait.

"As a consequence, when our friends from abroad enter the waters surrounding the Taiwan Strait they can grasp the typical modes and activities of Chinese communists."

He said that the Vietnamese navy, which has close ties with Beijing in Southeast Asia, was one of several foreign navies that were present this year.

The Vietnam defence ministry didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. However, state media reported on Monday that a warship had visited the northern Chinese port of Qingdao.

China's military is almost always operating around Taiwan in a campaign Taipei views as harassment, designed to put pressure on the government and Taiwanese armed forces by repeatedly scrambling deterrent aircraft.

CHINA'S Drills are busy this season

The name of China's wargame around Taiwan that was played in April is "Strait Thunder-2025".

Taiwan reported in December of last year that Chinese naval and air forces were increasing their activity in the region and around Taiwan, although China has never confirmed these drills.

Tsai responded that the months of October and December are usually a busy time for China's exercises, and Taipei is keeping a close eye on them to see if they turn into war games specific to Taiwan.

He added that China currently has four naval units in the Western Pacific. Ben Blanchard, Hanoi and Beijing Newsrooms; Clarence Fernandez, Editing.

(source: Reuters)