The Ministry of National Defense (MND) today condemned China for its “irrational” and “provocative” actions following China's announcement earlier this morning that it had launched military drills around Taiwan as a “stern warning” to those who promote Taiwan independence.
The ministry “strongly condemns this irrational and provocative behavior and has dispatched appropriate forces ... to respond, taking concrete actions to safeguard freedom, democracy and defend the sovereignty of the Republic of China,” the MND said in a statement.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) announced today that it had launched military drills code-named "Joint Sword-2024B," involving the 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.”
Photo: AFP
The drills focus on sea-air combat-readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, blockade on key ports and areas, and assault on maritime and ground targets, the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command said.
China’s announcement of military drills came four days after President William Lai (賴清德) gave his Double Ten National Day address, 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.
The MND said today that the president’s National Day speech highlighted the current state of cross-strait relations and his firm determination to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, while also advocating for cross-strait cooperation in addressing climate change and epidemic prevention.
The Chinese Communist Party is intensifying cross-strait tensions and undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, the MND said, adding that the military would continue to enhance its deterrence capability and strengthen its resilience to safeguard national security.
The Mainland Affairs Council dismissed the military exercises as an “open provocation” to peace and the world’s democracies, which prove that China’s 2022 “Global Security Initiative” is nothing but “lies.”
The council “strongly condemns” Beijing’s actions to harm regional security and "destroy" the “status quo” across the Taiwan Strait, it said, adding that the Republic of China would not “be bowed” or “submit” in the face of China’s military threats.
DAREDEVIL: Honnold said it had always been a dream of his to climb Taipei 101, while a Netflix producer said the skyscraper was ‘a real icon of this country’ US climber Alex Honnold yesterday took on Taiwan’s tallest building, becoming the first person to scale Taipei 101 without a rope, harness or safety net. Hundreds of spectators gathered at the base of the 101-story skyscraper to watch Honnold, 40, embark on his daredevil feat, which was also broadcast live on Netflix. Dressed in a red T-shirt and yellow custom-made climbing shoes, Honnold swiftly moved up the southeast face of the glass and steel building. At one point, he stepped onto a platform midway up to wave down at fans and onlookers who were taking photos. People watching from inside
A Vietnamese migrant worker yesterday won NT$12 million (US$379,627) on a Lunar New Year scratch card in Kaohsiung as part of Taiwan Lottery Co’s (台灣彩券) “NT$12 Million Grand Fortune” (1200萬大吉利) game. The man was the first top-prize winner of the new game launched on Jan. 6 to mark the Lunar New Year. Three Vietnamese migrant workers visited a Taiwan Lottery shop on Xinyue Street in Kaohsiung’s Gangshan District (崗山), a store representative said. The player bought multiple tickets and, after winning nothing, held the final lottery ticket in one hand and rubbed the store’s statue of the Maitreya Buddha’s belly with the other,
‘COMMITTED TO DETERRENCE’: Washington would stand by its allies, but it can only help as much as countries help themselves, Raymond Greene said The US is committed to deterrence in the first island chain, but it should not bear the burden alone, as “freedom is not free,” American Institute in Taiwan Director Raymond Greene said in a speech at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research’s “Strengthening Resilience: Defense as the Engine of Development” seminar in Taipei yesterday. In the speech, titled “Investing Together and a Secure and Prosperous Future,” Greene highlighted the contributions of US President Donald Trump’s administration to Taiwan’s defense efforts, including the establishment of supply chains for drones and autonomous systems, offers of security assistance and the expansion of
STREAMLINED: The dedicated funding would allow the US to transfer equipment to Taiwan when needed and order upgraded replacements for stockpiles, a source said The US House of Representatives on Thursday passed a defense appropriations bill totaling US$838.7 billion, of which US$1 billion is to be allocated to reinforcing security cooperation with Taiwan and US$150 million to replace defense articles provided to the nation. These are part of the Consolidated Appropriation Act, which the US House yesterday passed with 341 votes in favor and 88 against. The act must be passed by the US Senate before Friday next week to avoid another government shutdown. The US House Committee on Appropriations on Monday unveiled the act, saying that it allocates US$1 billion for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative
RSS