The Ministry of National Defense (MND) today said it is carefully tracking the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning, after it appeared to the southeast of Taiwan.
The ministry in a news conference responded to public concerns about the ship’s movements, as well as rumors that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is planning military exercises around the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival holiday.
The ministry is aware of the ship’s current location and is tracking it, Deputy Chief of General Staff for Intelligence officer Colonel Hu Chung-hua (胡中華) said.
Photo: Reuters
The military is using joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to closely monitor the vessel, Hu said.
Hu declined to comment on rumors that the CCP would soon conduct military exercises, but said that the armed forces would carefully evaluate the situation and appropriately respond.
“Gray zone” incursions or military exercises activate response plans among the armed forces, General Staff Operations and Planning Department deputy head Colonel Su Tung-wei (蘇統偉) said.
The ministry would gradually increase its combat readiness level and carry out readiness exercises depending on the degree of the threat, Su said.
Meanwhile, the officials were asked about a claim from the Chinese magazine Naval and Merchant Ships (艦船知識) that the best time for an attack on Taiwan would be in the afternoon of a weekday right before a typhoon, with the strategy being to target key infrastructure and win without an invasion.
The ministry is aware of the article, as well as other opinions from both domestic and foreign experts, Hu said.
The ministry would continue to carefully evaluate the other side’s possible actions and remain open to ideas to ensure peace in the Taiwan Strait, he said.
It would also continue to strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure, as per guidelines put forward by the Executive Yuan's Office of Homeland Security, Su added.
Future combat readiness exercises, such as the annual Han Kuang exercises, are to include training on protecting critical infrastructure, he said.
The CCP’s operations are always changing, Hu said in response to foreign media reports that China’s strategy would be to transition quickly from military exercises to a rapid strike against Taiwan.
The ministry is closely monitoring military operations and capabilities, but due to the confidential nature of intelligence-gathering, is not always able to explain this to the public, Hu said.
Last year, the Liaoning passed through waters near Taiwan, including sailing through the Taiwan Strait.
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