‘Deliberately Heightened Military Threat’: Taiwan Seeks Global Support For Halting Chinese Live-Fire Drills

A release by the Taiwanese administration said “#ROCArmedForces have utilised alert broadcast, aircraft in CAP, patrolling naval vessels, and land-based missile systems in response to this situation”.

A Taiwanese F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet lands at Hualien Air Force Base in Hualien, Taiwan

Source : Getty Images

New Delhi: Reacting to heightened military activity of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) close to Taiwanese waters in the wake of the visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the island-nation, and the sighting around Taiwan Strait of multiple Chinese fighter jets, some of which allegedly crossed the median line, the Taiwan government on Saturday claimed a ‘simulated attack’ by China against its armed forces.

A release by the Taiwanese administration said “#ROCArmedForces have utilised alert broadcast, aircraft in CAP, patrolling naval vessels, and land-based missile systems in response to this situation”.

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Saying the process of respond to the live-fire military exercises by China was underway, Taiwan labelled the drills as “China’s deliberately heightened military threat” to Taiwan and the international community which was “irresponsible”.

Saying that the prevailing situation undermines the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and creates “high regional tensions”, the Taiwan release stated “We solemnly call on China to act with reason and exercise restraint”.

On its preparedness to meet the threat from China, Taiwan said, “Our armed forces have heightened their readiness and are closely following military developments”.

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Further elaborating on its response to the Chinese muscle-flexing and ‘intensive information warfare’, Taiwan said, “Our government agencies are heightening their alert, and we call on private enterprises to step up their response measures.”

Seeking to rally global support and solidarity, the release stated, “We call on the international community to support democratic Taiwan and put a halt to these unilateral, irrational military exercises.”