Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) published a release in response to China’s military exercise around the island:
Taiwan’s MOFA strongly condemns China for ignoring Taiwan’s goodwill and carrying out provocative actions that increase tensions in the Taiwan Strait and the region.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has noted that China, on October 14, launched its so-called Espada-2024B Joint military exercise around Taiwan, once again challenging the rules-based international order and seriously undermining regional peace and stability. . MOFA strongly condemns China and urges it to immediately cease its military provocations.
In his National Day speech, President Lai Ching-te once again expressed his goodwill toward China and called on it to act responsibly and cooperate with Taiwan to maintain the current state of peace, stability and prosperity. However, China remains determined to intimidate the people of Taiwan through military exercises and is attempting to threaten Taiwan’s democracy and unilaterally disrupt the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and throughout the region. MOFA firmly denounces China and urges it not to use false pretexts to justify its dangerous provocative acts, nor to become a troublemaker that undermines regional peace and stability.
At the same time, MOFA calls on nations around the world to be aware of China’s authoritarian and expansionist nature, take concrete actions to support democratic Taiwan at this critical moment, unite in upholding the values of freedom and democracy, and safeguard the rules-based international order, as well as the prosperity of the free and open Indo-Pacific.
China holds large-scale military drills around Taiwan
What is happening between Taiwan and China?
The Chinese military carried out large-scale military exercises around Taiwan as a “stern warning” to those seeking the island’s independence, intensifying pressure following statements by Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, who said last week that Both parties are not subordinate to each other.
The maneuvers, carried out in the Taiwan Strait and in areas to the north, south and east of the island, involved China’s ground, naval, air and rocket forces. The aircraft carrier Liaoning was deployed to the east of the island as part of the exercise.
The Eastern Theater Command, responsible for the strait, announced that same day that the drills had been successfully completed, demonstrating its troops’ ability to conduct integrated joint operations. In addition, he warned that his forces are ready to counter any separatist attempt at “Taiwan independence.”
According to the Chinese military, these exercises were a “legitimate and necessary operation to defend sovereignty and national unity”, focused on maritime and air patrols, blockades of ports and strategic areas, as well as attacks on maritime and land targets.
The move was immediately condemned by Taipei, with Lai’s office calling on Beijing to refrain from continuing military provocations.
The Chinese Coast Guard reported that four of its formations carried out patrols in waters around Taiwan on Monday, calling them “a practical action to manage and control the island of Taiwan in accordance with the one-China principle.”
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported that as of 4:30 p.m. it had detected a total of 125 Chinese aircraft, 17 warships, as well as 17 Chinese Coast Guard vessels and other government ships. The number of Chinese fighter jets, including helicopters and drones, detected since 5 a.m. was the highest ever recorded in a single day, Taiwanese authorities added.
China had held a similar large-scale military exercise around Taiwan the last time Lai, whom Beijing accuses of being a separatist, took office in May. Beijing considers Taiwan a rebellious province that must be reunified with the mainland, including through the use of force if necessary.
Although it seems unthinkable today that China would carry out concrete actions in Taiwan, these military movements are still a wake-up call for the island and its allies.
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