Taiwan Carries Out Air Defense Drill Ahead of President's Pacific Trip

TaiwanPlus News

Taiwan has carried out an air defense drill ahead of President Lai Ching-te's first overseas trip since taking office. There are expectations that China could launch its own military exercises following his stopovers in U.S. territory en route to Taiwan's Pacific nation allies.

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00:00An air defence drill by Taiwan, testing its response and engagement procedures.

00:06It's a routine drill, but it comes as the country is on guard for possible military

00:11drills by China.

00:13The expectation of a rise in tensions centres on an upcoming trip to the Pacific.

00:30by Taiwan's president, which will include stopovers in the United States.

00:37China is likely to use that trip as a pretext to launch military exercises, according to

00:43the Reuters news agency, which cited assessments by Taiwan and regional security officials.

00:50China claims sovereignty over Taiwan, and has in the past conducted live-fire exercises

00:56near Taiwan, after Lai's predecessor made stopovers in the United States.

01:02Lai's first overseas trip since becoming president in May will take him to visit Palau and Taiwan's

01:09other Pacific allies.

01:11And he will transit in the US territory of Guam and state of Hawaii.

01:17While the president will be busy with multiple stops over the coming days, the government's

01:22focus may instead be on the Taiwan Strait, watching to see whether China carries out

01:28its third major war games around Taiwan this year alone.

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