Taiwan Monitors Chinese Live-Fire Drills as Beijing Closes Five Sea Zones

Taiwan's military is tracking a series of Chinese live-fire exercises set along China's coastline this week, according to the island's defence ministry. Defence Minister Wellington Koo said the armed forces are assessing the activity and will stay alert to any security risks it may pose. Taipei has not announced any changes to its own readiness posture.

Beijing has issued restrictions on maritime activity across five zones that span from the South China Sea up to China's northeastern coast. One of the designated exercise areas lies off Zhejiang province, a location positioned relatively close to Taiwan. The notice covers a broad stretch of water rather than a single site, with the drills scheduled to unfold over the coming days.

The exercises land against a backdrop of sustained friction between Beijing and Taipei over Taiwan's political status and security. China regards Taiwan as part of its territory, while Taiwan's government holds that the island's future should be settled by its own people. That disagreement has repeatedly pushed military activity into the waters and airspace around the Taiwan Strait in recent years.

The timing of the drills has renewed attention on regional security, as governments and shipping operators watch for any further expansion of restricted zones. The five designated areas could affect civilian vessel traffic if the closures remain in force for the duration of the exercises. Taiwan said it will continue to monitor the situation closely.