DPP, KMT trade blame over China policy as PRC drills draw condemnation

Taipei, Dec. 29 (CNA) As Beijing began a new round of military exercises around Taiwan on Monday, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) condemned each other's approach toward the People's Republic of China (PRC).

The PRC's People's Liberation Army (PLA) said it began exercises code-named "Justice Mission 2025" on Monday in the Taiwan Strait and waters to Taiwan's north, southwest, southeast and east.

The PLA also said it would conduct live-fire drills on Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in five designated maritime and airspace zones around Taiwan.

The exercises were among the largest targeting Taiwan this year, and triggered recriminations by the DPP and KMT against each other.

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DPP spokesperson Wu Cheng (吳崢) criticized KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wen (鄭麗文) for saying she would prioritize visiting Beijing in the first half of 2026 and describing a possible meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) as having "major strategic significance."

Wu said Cheng's remarks, made as China announced the exercises, showed that the KMT's cross-Taiwan Strait approach put Beijing first while ignoring Taiwan's security and dignity.

He also said the timing of the exercises, which came shortly after the Taipei-Shanghai Twin City Forum that concluded Sunday, undercut the KMT's claims that cross-strait exchanges helped ease tensions.

In response, Cheng said in a statement that China's military pressure stemmed from what she described as the DPP government's "wrong cross-strait policies," arguing that President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) confrontational approach had heightened security risks and international anxiety.

Cheng said the KMT did not expect Beijing to halt military preparations in response to appeals by an opposition party, and she accused Lai of provoking confrontation while expecting the opposition parties to keep the door open for cross-strait peace.

She also questioned the government's defense policies, arguing that its talk of building resilience was undermined by shortages of professional soldiers to operate Taiwan's growing arsenal and resistance to proposals to improve pay and conditions for career troops.

Meanwhile, Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌), chairman of the Taiwan People's Party, a smaller opposition party, condemned the Chinese drills, saying they would do nothing to promote cross-strait peace or regional stability and instead deepen tensions.

Huang warned that continued military intimidation would only increase regional uncertainty.

The TPP urged Beijing to halt actions that undermined stability in the Taiwan Strait and act responsibly to maintain regional peace.