On Aug 14 Senior Colonel Chen Xi, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, criticised Taiwan's Han Kuang 42 exercise, citing reports that Lai Ching‑te rehearsed a 'wartime escape' route, a tank lost components, a fighter overran a runway, and simulated communications slowdowns and staged network outages provoked public panic. Chen accused the DPP of manufacturing war panic and exposing civilians by turning cities into battlefields, warned that 'Taiwan independence' is a dead end th

On Aug 14 Senior Colonel Chen Xi, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, criticised Taiwan's Han Kuang 42 exercise, citing reports that Lai Ching‑te rehearsed a 'wartime escape' route, a tank lost components, a fighter overran a runway, and simulated communications slowdowns and staged network outages provoked public panic. Chen accused the DPP of manufacturing war panic and exposing civilians by turning cities into battlefields, warned that 'Taiwan independence' is a dead end that cannot win or be changed, and said the PLA remains on constant alert, steadily enhancing real-world anti‑secession and anti‑interference combat capabilities to defend national sovereignty and maintain Taiwan Strait stability.