Taiwan says warning time for any China attack is shortening

Key Points:

• Taiwan is conducting five days of "immediate combat readiness" drills to test its ability to respond instantly to a potential Chinese attack, reflecting concerns over shortening warning times.
• Defence Minister Wellington Koo emphasized the need to rapidly transition from peacetime to wartime status amid increasing military threats from China, which regularly operates around Taiwan and recently sailed its newest aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait.
• China condemned the drills as evidence of Taiwan's "malicious intent" to seek independence by force, reiterating its commitment to peaceful reunification but refusing to renounce the use of force against separatist activities.
• Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te is pushing to modernize the armed forces and increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2030, with strong support from the United States and regional allies aiming to maintain stability in the first island chain.
• The U.S. diplomatic stance emphasizes preventing conflict and building robust deterrence alongside regional partners to uphold the current status quo and deter any forced attempts to take Taiwan.