China's recent escalation of military pressure is not the behavior of a responsible major power, President William Lai (賴清德) said today, emphasizing that Taiwan would not escalate conflicts or provoke disputes.
Maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region is an expectation shared by the international community, as well as a principle upheld by Taiwan as a regional stakeholder, Lai wrote in a Facebook post today.
Photo: CNA
China's exercises are inconsistent with the conduct expected of a responsible major power, he said, adding that Taiwanese frontline troops are primed to defend the nation, but Taipei would not seek to escalate the situation.
He thanked all Coast Guard Administration personnel and armed forces members for their high level of professionalism and sense of duty in calmly addressing various threats on the front lines of maritime and air defense.
"Because of your round-the-clock protection, the public can continue their daily lives and move forward with peace of mind," he said.
Lai urged the public to remain assured, saying that in the face of various forms of harassment and cognitive warfare, the national security team and the military are always working closely together, promptly assessing the latest developments and doing their utmost to ensure national security.
Unity between the military and the people, and not being misled by disinformation, is the strongest force protecting our democratic home, he added.
He called on the public to show support for the heroes on the front lines and to jointly defend Taiwan’s sovereignty and freedom.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) yesterday launched a military exercise named “Justice Mission 2025” encircling Taiwan, including live-fire drills scheduled from 8am to 6pm today in five sea and air zones around Taiwan.
China fired rockets toward Taiwan today and deployed new amphibious assault ships alongside bomber aircraft and warships to encircle Taiwan on the second day of its most extensive war games aimed at rehearsing a blockade.
The PLA Eastern Theatre Command said live-firing would take place until 6pm in the sea and airspace of five locations surrounding Taiwan, while naval and air force units drill strikes on maritime and aerial targets as well as anti-submarine operations to the north and south of Taiwan.
The Ministry of National Defense confirmed live-firing drills had taken place to the north of Taiwan this morning, and debris had entered its contiguous zone, defined as 24 nautical miles offshore.
Reuters was not immediately able to verify whether China also launched rockets in the other zones it had demarcated for the exercises.
A senior Taiwan security official told Reuters that Taipei is watching whether China's sixth major war game around Taiwan since 2022, when then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, would also see China fire missiles over Taiwan, as it did then in exercises in 2022.
The drill was meant to serve as a “stern warning to ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces” and “external interference forces,” the PLA said yesterday.
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