‘Very annoying’: Taipei residents weigh in on China’s military escalations: Video
Taipei residents have shared their views following the announcement by local authorities that China has escalated its military drills around Taiwan.
Officials said on Wednesday, December 11, that the exercises, which include dozens of warplanes and a massive maritime operation, have been described as China’s effort to draw “a red line” for the next US president.
Wu Tsung-hsi, a resident, expressed frustration with the repeated incidents.
"It's very annoying. These incidents keep happening repeatedly. Each time, we must deploy fighter jets for monitoring, raising concerns about whether the defence ministry can respond consistently. Or will it eventually become a case of 'the boy who cried wolf,' where frequent occurrences lead to a sense of numbness among the public," he told AFP.
Another resident, Lisa Wu, downplayed the psychological impact of the drills, stating, "It doesn't seem to bring much psychological pressure since it feels like a recurring situation every year, so there's probably not much mental burden involved."
The drills represent one of China's largest maritime exercises in recent years. Taiwanese officials reported that the deployment involves around 60 warships and 30 coast guard vessels spanning from the southern islands of Japan to the South China Sea.
This escalation has drawn international attention, with analysts interpreting it as a message to both Taiwan and the United States regarding China's stance on Taiwan’s independence.
