The annual military exercises in the outlying Kinmen islands are not open for view to the public this year. That’s in light of cross-strait tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Taiwanese troops stationed in the outlying Kinmen islands are undergoing exercises as tensions with China grow stronger.
The exercises are held every year, but this year the military is not letting civilians get closer than 500 meters to view the drills. That’s due to recent cross-strait tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic.
This has left military buffs disappointed.
One says he's watched these exercises ever since he was a child, and that they loom large in his childhood memories.
In addition to keeping civilians well away from the live fire exercises, the number of 8-inch howitzers and cannons used are also just half the usual number in order to keep this year's drills low-key.
Kinmen City Councilman Tung Shen-bao says this means that the military can't show off its strength to tourists.
Kinmen County Magistrate Yang Cheng Wu says that if cross-strait tensions get worse, Kinmen will be on the front line of any resulting battle.
That's why the military is playing it safe with the exercises this time around.