Taiwan Plans Inter-Ministerial Drills to Counter China Blockade Risk
Taiwan's Deputy Minister of the Interior, Ma Shih-yuan, announced that Taiwan will conduct its first inter-ministerial joint exercises to prepare for a potential Chinese naval blockade. The drills aim to escort ships carrying natural gas and oil to secure critical domestic supplies. Ma warned that a large-scale blockade around Taiwan would impact regional energy supplies. Taiwan plans a tabletop exercise in June and drills for international aid ship docking and domestic land transport escort in September.
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- 📰 Published: April 13, 2026 at 22:17
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Taipei, April 13 (CNA) Taiwan's Deputy Minister of the Interior, Ma Shih-yuan, stated in an interview with Bloomberg that the government will soon hold its first joint exercises involving the Ministry of the Interior and other ministries to ensure the escort of ships carrying natural gas and oil and to secure critical domestic supplies in the event of a Chinese naval blockade.
Bloomberg News reported that Ma Shih-yuan also warned that a large-scale blockade of the area around Taiwan would impact the entire region. Iran's recent blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a global energy chokepoint, highlights the associated risks.
He said: "If the Taiwan Strait or the area around Taiwan is blockaded, it is almost equivalent to a complete interruption of regional energy supply. This is not just a problem for Taiwan, but a problem for the entire region."
Bloomberg wrote that although China has not yet threatened to cut off supplies to Taiwan or other economies, Taiwan regularly conducts exercises to prepare for potential hostile actions by the People's Liberation Army.
A Ministry of National Defense spokesperson stated on April 10 that various scenarios and possible actions by the PLA would be included in drills to prepare response plans.
The Ministry of the Interior told Bloomberg today that "the Taiwan government is expected to hold a tabletop exercise on an anti-blockade scenario in June," and in September, there will be drills to test the docking of international aid ships and the escort of domestic land transport.
Ma Shih-yuan pointed out that the Ministry of the Interior will lead land transport exercises before July, focusing on transporting supplies domestically; the Navy and Coast Guard Administration will be responsible for drills on maritime escort operations for ships sailing in the waters around Taiwan.
Unlike the Strait of Hormuz controlled by Iran, ships can bypass the Taiwan Strait by sailing east of Taiwan, but rerouting through the Pacific Ocean would likely increase shipping costs and extend transit times.
Ma Shih-yuan said, "We hope to keep three shipping lanes open to respond to a Chinese blockade," and humanitarian aid operations during large-scale disasters are also a key focus. These lanes will maintain Taiwan's connections with the Philippines, Japan, and the United States.
Ma Shih-yuan expects Japan and other countries to assist in future escort missions. He noted that "freedom of navigation operations" in the Taiwan Strait have demonstrated an informal international consensus on keeping the Taiwan Strait open.
He emphasized: "Although there is no formal agreement, there is already a consensus among countries." Even if a blockade occurs tomorrow, he is confident that Taiwan can maintain open shipping lanes.
The military is drawing lessons from current conflicts. According to the Ministry of National Defense, the military began its annual Han Kuang No. 42 exercise tabletop simulation on April 11, referencing incidents including the Iran crisis and the US arrest of then-Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January. Additionally, a Coast Guard Administration spokesperson stated last week that the Coast Guard will participate in an East Coast exercise led by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications' Maritime and Port Bureau in late September, simulating a wartime blockade scenario. (Translator: Hung Pei-ying) 1150413
Bloomberg News reported that Ma Shih-yuan also warned that a large-scale blockade of the area around Taiwan would impact the entire region. Iran's recent blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a global energy chokepoint, highlights the associated risks.
He said: "If the Taiwan Strait or the area around Taiwan is blockaded, it is almost equivalent to a complete interruption of regional energy supply. This is not just a problem for Taiwan, but a problem for the entire region."
Bloomberg wrote that although China has not yet threatened to cut off supplies to Taiwan or other economies, Taiwan regularly conducts exercises to prepare for potential hostile actions by the People's Liberation Army.
A Ministry of National Defense spokesperson stated on April 10 that various scenarios and possible actions by the PLA would be included in drills to prepare response plans.
The Ministry of the Interior told Bloomberg today that "the Taiwan government is expected to hold a tabletop exercise on an anti-blockade scenario in June," and in September, there will be drills to test the docking of international aid ships and the escort of domestic land transport.
Ma Shih-yuan pointed out that the Ministry of the Interior will lead land transport exercises before July, focusing on transporting supplies domestically; the Navy and Coast Guard Administration will be responsible for drills on maritime escort operations for ships sailing in the waters around Taiwan.
Unlike the Strait of Hormuz controlled by Iran, ships can bypass the Taiwan Strait by sailing east of Taiwan, but rerouting through the Pacific Ocean would likely increase shipping costs and extend transit times.
Ma Shih-yuan said, "We hope to keep three shipping lanes open to respond to a Chinese blockade," and humanitarian aid operations during large-scale disasters are also a key focus. These lanes will maintain Taiwan's connections with the Philippines, Japan, and the United States.
Ma Shih-yuan expects Japan and other countries to assist in future escort missions. He noted that "freedom of navigation operations" in the Taiwan Strait have demonstrated an informal international consensus on keeping the Taiwan Strait open.
He emphasized: "Although there is no formal agreement, there is already a consensus among countries." Even if a blockade occurs tomorrow, he is confident that Taiwan can maintain open shipping lanes.
The military is drawing lessons from current conflicts. According to the Ministry of National Defense, the military began its annual Han Kuang No. 42 exercise tabletop simulation on April 11, referencing incidents including the Iran crisis and the US arrest of then-Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January. Additionally, a Coast Guard Administration spokesperson stated last week that the Coast Guard will participate in an East Coast exercise led by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications' Maritime and Port Bureau in late September, simulating a wartime blockade scenario. (Translator: Hung Pei-ying) 1150413