Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) should convey the mainstream public opinion in Taiwan to Beijing, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Ming-chi (陳明祺) said today, ahead of Cheng’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平).
First, Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other; second, the future of the Republic of China (Taiwan) must be decided by its people through democratic means; and third, China must immediately stop sending military aircraft and vessels to harass Taiwan, Chen told reporters ahead of a legislative session.
These three points must be conveyed accurately to Xi so that a clear signal is sent to the world: This is the mainstream public opinion of Taiwan, not merely the appeal of a single political party or individual, he said.
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
Asked if the Cheng-Xi meeting would affect future arms purchase schedules, he said that enhancing national defense remains a primary goal.
Peace can only be maintained through strength, he said, adding that he hopes political factors would not interfere in efforts to bolster national defense.
Meanwhile, seven Chinese aircraft, seven navy vessels and one official ship were detected operating around Taiwan in the 24 hours before 6am today, the Ministry of National Defense said in its daily update.
Seven aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s northern and southwestern air defense identification zones, it said.
The armed forces “monitored the situation and employed [patrol] aircraft, navy vessels and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities,” it said.
China has reserved offshore airspace in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea from March 27 to May 6, issuing alerts usually used to warn of military exercises, although no such exercises have been announced, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported yesterday. Reserving such a large area for 40 days without explanation is an “unusual step,” as military exercises normally only last a few days, the paper said. These alerts, known as Notice to Air Missions (Notams), “are intended to inform pilots and aviation authorities of temporary airspace hazards or restrictions,” the article said. The airspace reserved in the alert is
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