TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan demanded Wednesday that China end its ongoing military activity in nearby waters, which it said is unilaterally undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and disrupting international shipping and trade.
Taiwan defense officials say they have detected Chinese ship s since Monday, both off Taiwan and farther out along the first-island chain.
China claims self-governing Taiwan as its territory and opposes any official contact with America and other foreign governments.
The Taiwan Strait is a 160-kilometer- (100-mile-) wide body of water between China and the island of Taiwan.
China’s military held major exercises around Taiwan following both Lai’s inauguration in May and his national day speech in October.
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Alleging that China is unilaterally threatening peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and interfering with international shipping and trade, Taiwan demanded Wednesday that China cease its continuous military operations in neighboring waters.
The activities of a “large number” of Chinese coast guard and naval vessels in the first-island chain, the Pacific archipelago off the Asian continental mainland that includes Japan, Taiwan, and a portion of the Philippines, prompted the Foreign Ministry to issue a statement on its website.
“The Beijing authorities are urged to immediately cease military intimidation and any other unreasonable actions that jeopardize regional peace and stability,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
Chinese ships have been spotted off Taiwan and further out along the first-island chain since Monday, according to Taiwan defense officials. The formations, according to their description, are two walls intended to show that the waters are Chinese.
The People’s Liberation Army has not confirmed whether China is conducting drills, but the country’s restriction of airspace off its southeast coast from Monday to Wednesday suggested that it was.
After its president, Lai Ching-te, visited Hawaii and the United States, Taiwan has been anticipating drills. A. Guam territory while traveling abroad last week. Taiwan, which is self-governing, is claimed by China, which also rejects formal relations with the US and other nations.
In an online statement released on Wednesday, a Chinese spokesperson stated that the government would not allow Taiwan’s provocations in coordination with outside forces to continue unchallenged, without directly commenting on any military drills.
“We will take the necessary steps to resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and safeguard the fundamental interests of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait,” Zhu Fenglian, a spokesman for the government’s Taiwan Affairs Office, stated.
The Taiwan Strait is a body of water that separates the island of Taiwan from China and is 160 kilometers (100 miles) wide.
Following Lai’s inauguration in May and his national day speech in October, China’s military conducted significant drills in the Taiwan area. Additionally, it hosted a significant drill in honor of Nancy Pelosi, the U.S. speaker at the time. A. 2022 saw a visit from the House of Representatives to Taiwan.
