Taipei, Taiwan (AP) – Taiwan strongly criticized China’s recent military maneuvers following Beijing’s declaration of a designated area for conducting shooting drills off the southwest coast of the self-governed island. China views Taiwan as a renegade province and has shown a willingness to use force to achieve reunification. In recent years, China has significantly ramped up its military activities in Taiwan’s surrounding waters and airspace.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement branding China as the primary instigator of regional unrest, posing the most significant threat to peace and stability in both the Taiwan Strait and the broader Indo-Pacific region. Concurrently, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported a surge in Chinese military operations near Taiwan, with 45 aircraft, 14 navy vessels, and one ship detected within a 24-hour period. Notably, 34 of these had breached Taiwan’s territorial waters and airspace.
In response to the heightened incursions, Taiwan stated that it took necessary actions, although specific details were not disclosed. Earlier in the week, Taiwan confronted four Chinese coast guard vessels near Kinmen island, prompting Taiwan to dispatch its own ships to deter the intruders.
Chinese state media Xinhua reported that during a recent annual meeting concerning Taiwan, senior Chinese official Wang Huning emphasized the need for China to lead efforts towards cross-strait relations and work towards the “reunification of the motherland.” Simultaneously, Taiwan reported an incident where a Chinese-owned vessel was caught damaging an undersea cable, leading to the detention of the ship. In response, Beijing accused Taiwan of exaggerating the situation and engaging in political manipulation before verifying all the facts.
