Taiwan said it would exercise its right to self-defence and “counter-attack” if Chinese fighters and warships were to enter its territorial space…reports Asian Lite News
Taiwan’s Defence Ministry on Wednesday said that China’s recent military drills had jeopardised the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, vowing to “do whatever it takes” to defend the island.
“We will continue defending our national security, firmly holding on to the median line, and doing whatever it takes to protect our homes, our families, and our sovereignty,” Ministry spokesperson Li-Fang Sun said.
Taiwan said it would exercise its right to self-defence and “counter-attack” if Chinese fighters and warships were to enter its territorial space.
“We will use naval and air forces and coastal fire to repel PLA (Chinese People’s Liberation Army) forces that enter our 24-nautical-mile or 12-nautical-mile zones,” said Major General Lin Wen-huang, director of operations and planning division.
“When the PLA aircraft and ships are in our 12-nautical-mile territorial sea and air space, we will act in accordance with operatiorders to exercise the right of self-defence to counter-attack,” he said at an online news briefing.
After US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei on August 2, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army launched military manoeuvres around Taiwan, followed by large-scale maritime and aerial drills, reports dpa news agency.
Chinese drones have been spotted over the Taiwanese island of Kinmen.
A video from China showing two Taiwanese soldiers staring up the drone went viral.
Taiwan’s Kinmen Defense Command said late Tuesday that it had fired warning shots at a Chinese military drone.
On Tuesday, President Tsai Ing-wen said at an air base in Penghu county that she had ordered Taiwan’s military to take necessary and strong countermeasures against China’s provocations.
Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday denounced the passage of two US Navy warships through the Taiwan Strait, calling it a “provocation” aimed at “sabotaging regional peace and stability”.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Washington must observe the “One China” policy, which is the position that there is only one Chinese government, reports dpa news agency.
On Sunday, the guided-missile cruisers USS Antietam and USS Chancellorsville made a “routine” mission through international waters, the US Navy’s 7th Fleet said.
“The ship’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the US’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The United States military flies, sails, and operates anywhere international law allows,” the statement said.
It was the first time the US military sent warships through the strategic waterway since US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan on August 2.