Taiwan Strongly Condemns China’s Military Drills as “Irrational Provocations”
On October 14, Taiwan condemned the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) “irrational” and “provocative” actions following China’s announcement earlier that day that it had launched military drills around Taiwan as a “stern warning” to those who promote Taiwan independence.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) strongly condemned China’s “irrational and provocative behavior” of launching large-scale drills around Taiwan, adding that it had dispatched appropriate forces to respond and take concrete actions to safeguard Taiwan’s freedom, democracy, and sovereignty.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) announced earlier on October 14 morning that it had launched military drills code-named “Joint Sword-2024B,” involving its army, navy, air force, and rocket force in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, south, and east of Taiwan, as a “stern warning to the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces.”
The exercises are focused on sea-air combat-readiness patrol, blockade on key ports and areas, assault on maritime and ground targets, and joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command said.
China flew a single-day-high of 125 warplanes near Taiwan on October 14, according to Taiwan’s defense ministry. The figures were recorded from 5:02 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. that day. During that same period, 17 warships and 17 China Coast Guard ships were detected in waters off Taiwan, the MND said.
The Chinese military announced the end of its drills at 6 p.m. October 14.
China’s one-day, large-scale military drills came four days after Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te gave his speech on October 10, in which he said China has “no right to represent Taiwan” and reiterated that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are “not subordinate” to each other.
Taiwan’s defense ministry said on October 14 that President Lai’s Double Ten Day speech highlighted his firm determination to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the current state of cross-strait relations, adding that it is actually the Chinese Communist Party that is intensifying cross-strait tensions.
Taiwan’s military detected a record 153 Chinese military aircraft around Taiwan in 25-hour period from 5 a.m. October 14 to 6 a.m. October 15, including the single-day-high of 125 warplanes recorded on October 14, the defense ministry announced on October 15.
Graphic: CNA (Central News Agency)
References:
[1] Focus Taiwan
[2] Taipei Times
[3] Focus Taiwan
[4] Taipei Times
U.S., EU, U.K., Japan Voice Concern Over China’s Military Drills Around Taiwan
The United States, European Union (EU), United Kingdom (U.K.), and Japan had expressed concerns over the large-scale military drills around Taiwan conducted by China on October 14, just days after Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te delivered his October 10 speech to defend Taiwan’s sovereignty, democracy, and free way of life.
“The United States is seriously concerned by the [Chinese] People’s Liberation Army joint military drills in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan,” U.S. Departmentof State spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement issued late October 13 (U.S. local time).
“The PRC [People’s Republic of China] response with military provocations to a routine annual speech is unwarranted and risks escalation,” he said.
In the statement, the U.S. State Department called on China to “act with restraint and to avoid any further actions that may undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the broader region,” which is “essential to regional peace and prosperity and a matter of international concern.”
The U.S. will “continue to monitor PRC activities and coordinate with allies and partners regarding our shared concerns,” it added.
In a statement released on October 14 by the European External Action Service (EEAS), the EU said China’s joint military activities around Taiwan “further increase cross-strait tensions.”
“The EU has a direct interest in the preservation of the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. We oppose any unilateral actions that change the status quo by force or coercion,” the statement said.
The U.K.’s foreign ministry said in a press statement on October 14 that London was concerned by China’s military exercises around Taiwan, “which increase tensions and risk dangerous escalation in the Taiwan Strait.”
“We [the U.K.] do not support any unilateral attempts to change the status quo,” the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said. “We call for restraint and the avoidance of any further actions that may undermine peace and stability,” it added.
In Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on October 14 that Japan “will prepare to respond to any development” related to the situation involving Taiwan.
“Peace and security in and around the Taiwan Strait are an extremely important issue for the region. Japan will carefully monitor the situation,” Ishiba added.
References:
[1] Focus Taiwan
[2] Focus Taiwan
[3] Taipei Times
Taiwan’s Former President Tsai: Compromising Sovereignty Won’t Bring Peace
Compromising sovereignty and yielding to authoritarian aggression will not bring about peace, Taiwan’s former President Tsai Ing-wen said during a visit to the European Parliament’s complex in Brussels on October 17.
“Peace cannot be achieved by yielding to authoritarian aggression or by compromising our sovereignty and democratic way of life,” Tsai told a reception attended by about 50 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and hosted by Slovakian MEP Miriam Lexmann.
“To uphold peace, one needs to be strong and determined,” Tsai said.
Tsai urged the global democratic community to continue standing together in opposing and deterring China’s “maritime and airspace incursions” around Taiwan that she said were aimed at altering the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and jeopardizing regional stability.
At the same time, she said, Taiwan is “eager” to deepen its connections with the world, and stands ready to share its best practices with the global community in areas such as economic and technological development, public health, and the fight against disinformation.
“I hope the European Parliament and the national parliaments of the EU member states will continue to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations,” Tsai added.
Speaking at the reception, MEP Lexmann called for cooperation among partners in the increasingly complex global geopolitical landscape to protect democratic institutions and strengthen economic development.
“It is the sovereign right of every European country to develop relations with Taiwan,” Lexmann said, while describing the People’s Republic of China as “the biggest threat to the global peace and security.”
On October 17, Tsai arrived in Brussels, the last stop of her week-long European tour, and made the first visit to the European Parliament branch in the Belgian capital by a former Taiwanese president.
The European tour, which has also included stops in the Czech Republic and France, is also the first overseas trip by Tsai after stepping down as Taiwan president in May following two four-year terms.