• Taiwan's coast guard conducted joint military drills to counter China's 'grey zone' threats.
• The drills simulated scenarios to enhance readiness and crisis response capabilities.
• President Lai highlighted ongoing incursions from China during the exercises.
• Taiwan’s coast guard modernization includes the deployment of advanced Anping-class corvettes.
• U.S. diplomats participated, underscoring international support for Taiwan's defense efforts.

Taiwan's coast guard conducted joint drills with its military on June 8, focusing on improving readiness against what authorities in Taipei describe as a growing "grey zone" threat from China, which claims the island as its own. Activities such as undersea cable cutting and sand dredging by China have been a source of persistent tension, and the coast guard is often the first to respond to these provocations, according to Reuters, TRT Global, and Channel News Asia.

The drills, held in the southern port city of Kaohsiung and overseen by President Lai Ching-te, simulated a scenario where a ferry was seized by "international terrorists." The exercises involved the coast guard, an interior ministry rescue helicopter, and an army medevac helicopter to retake control and evacuate casualties. Notably, this marked the first instance of both types of helicopters flying together in such a scenario, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

President Lai emphasized Taiwan's position by stating, "The government will continue to consolidate the strength of all departments and strengthen the resilience of the entire society to defend national security and safeguard Taiwan's democracy and freedom." The drills were attended by various officials, including the top U.S. diplomat in Kaohsiung, Neil Gibson, highlighting international support for Taiwan amid rising tensions with China, as reported by TRT Global and Reuters.

The coast guard, which would be mobilized for military service in case of conflict with China, is also frequently deployed to monitor Chinese naval activities around the island, especially during military drills conducted by Beijing. The coast guard is undergoing an expansion and modernization program, currently incorporating new Anping-class corvettes that began commissioning in 2020. These ships are designed for agility in coastal operations and are equipped with launchers for Taiwan-made missiles, according to Channel News Asia and TRT Global.

Taiwan's government continues to assert its sovereignty, rejecting Beijing's claims over the island, with ongoing preparations to ensure the safety and security of its population in light of China's military aggressions, as stated by Reuters, Channel News Asia, and TRT Global.