Malacañang on Wednesday advised overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan to “stay put” following a directive from the military chief for troops to prepare for a possible invasion of the self-ruled island.
“Stay put, and they should remember that the government is always ready to assist them,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing.
China’s military said it practised hitting key ports and energy sites during “live-fire” drills Wednesday as part of exercises aimed at Taiwan, the democratic island it claims as its own.
Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner’s reminder to troops to get ready for an invasion scenario coincided with the first day of China’s military drills Tuesday.
Brawner also reminded troops under the Northern Luzon Command that they are expected to lead the operation for the rescue of 250,000 overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan in case an invasion happens.
Castro, however, assured the public yesterday there was no cause for alarm as Brawner’s statement was a standard precautionary measure.
“It is only right that he has a reminder to the entire troops, as well as to the public, that we should always be prepared for all contingencies,” Castro said.
“If that were to happen, we should not be complacent in our positions and in our work. We should always be ready,” she added.
In a separate statement, AFP said Brawner’s instructions to NOLCOM “was not a response to an imminent threat nor a declaration of heightened alert, but rather a prudent measure to ensure readiness for potential scenarios.”
“Specifically, General Brawner’s pronouncement emphasized Non-combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) preparedness, given the significant presence of approximately 250,000 OFWs in Taiwan, ensuring their safety should the situation escalate.”
China’s surprise maneuvers Wednesday were criticized by Washington as “intimidation tactics” and came after Taiwan President Lai Ching-te called Beijing a “foreign hostile force.”
Named “Strait Thunder-2025A,” the drills were in the middle and southern parts of the Taiwan Strait as well as the East China Sea, China’s military said.
The strait is a vital artery for global shipping.
China’s military said it held “long-range live-fire drills” and practiced hitting “simulated targets of key ports and energy facilities” during the exercises.
Wednesday’s exercises aimed to “test the troops’ capabilities” in areas such as “blockade and control, and precision strikes on key targets,” said Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman of the Chinese military’s Eastern Theater Command.
China’s Shandong aircraft carrier was also carrying out drills testing the ability to “blockade” Taiwan, the Eastern Theater Command said.
Taipei has condemned the Chinese exercises.
The island of 23 million people is a potential flashpoint between China and the United States, which is Taiwan’s most important security partner.
The US State Department said Beijing’s “aggressive” military activities and rhetoric towards Taiwan “only serve to exacerbate tensions and put the region’s security and the world’s prosperity at risk.”
Chinese leaders vigorously opposed Washington’s support for Taiwan and detest Lai, who they call a “separatist.”
Drills in the strait came a day after China sent its army, navy, air and rocket forces to surround Taiwan for exercises Beijing said were aimed at practising for “precision strikes” and a blockade of the island.
That prompted Taipei to dispatch its own air and maritime forces as part of a “Rapid Response Exercise.”
Taiwan’s defense ministry said Tuesday China had deployed 21 warships around the island, including the Shandong carrier group, along with 71 aircraft and four coast guard vessels.
That was the highest number of warships detected during a single day in nearly a year, and the most aircraft since October 2024. With AFP