Taiwan said on Wednesday it will exercise its right of self-defense and counter-attack if the Chinese military enters its territory, as Beijing has stepped up its military activities near the democratic island.
Despite the government’s strong objections in Taipei, Beijing, which regards Taiwan as its territory, is holding military exercises around the island this month in response to the visit of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei.
Taiwan’s defense officials said China’s “high-intensity” military patrols near Taiwan continue and Beijing’s intention to turn the Taiwan Strait that separates the two sides into its “inland sea” will be the main source of instability in the region.
“For aircraft and ships entering our sea and air zone, the national army will exercise its right of self-defense and counterattack without exception,” Lin Wen-Huang, deputy chief of staff for operations and planning, told reporters. at a press conference.
Taiwan has complained repeatedly that Chinese drones fly near small island groups off the coast of China.
Lin added that the military will exercise the same right to strike against Chinese drones that ignore warnings to leave their territory after posing a threat.
Taiwan fired a warning fire at a Chinese drone for the first time on Tuesday, shortly after President Tsai Ing-wen ordered the Taiwanese military to take “strong countermeasures” against Chinese provocations.
Image: Hector Retamal/AFP
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian reiterated China’s position that Taiwan belongs to it.
“First of all, I have to say that Taiwan is a province of China, there is no so-called defense ministry. Taiwanese officials are acting nervous, this makes no sense,” he said.
source: Noticias
