Taiwan promises to follow Chinese military exercises off the island

O taiwan Defense Minister today said that the authorities will follow “closely” the military exercises initiated by China off its coast, some of which are planned for areas near the island.

“ According to the principle of preparing for the worst, we will continue to closely monitor all its activities, whether they are exercises with real fire or other military training,” Wellington Koo said before the deputies of the Taiwanese parliament, the Legislative Yuan.

Since Thursday, China’s Maritime Safety Administration has issued at least six navigational warnings for military exercises that will take place intermittently until October 20, at different points on the Chinese coast, from Hainão Island, in the south of the country, to the Bohai Sea, in the north.

The maneuvers also cover the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and the South China Sea.

Taiwan's closest exercises are scheduled for October 13-15, in periods of one to two hours, in a maritime zone off the Chinese province of Zhejiang (east), about 280 kilometres north of the island.

To date, Beijing has not framed these maneuvers in a larger military operation, and this type of navigation warnings is usually associated with routine exercises by the People's Liberation Army (ELP).

In statements quoted by the Taiwanese news agency CNA, Koo stated that the Ministry of Defense has “full knowledge” of the situation and explained that, according to a preliminary assessment, the activities correspond to firing exercises of artillery units and other forces.

The ruler ensured that the Taiwanese Armed Forces will continue to follow the Chinese movements, according to the principle of “overpowering the adversary.”.

“The ELP does not fail to carry out exercises that constitute a military threat and generate instability in Indo-Pacific, deserving the condemnation of all,” he said.

The Taiwan Maritime and Port Administration has indicated to the CNA that the entrances and exits of commercial ports are “normal” and that, so far, Chinese exercises do not affect ships sailing in the waters around the island.

The maneuvers take place a few days after the celebrations of the National Day of the Republic of China, official designation of Taiwan, marked on October 10.

On that occasion, Taiwanese President William Lai defended an increase in the island's military expenditure as a way of avoiding a conflict with Beijing.

In statements released on Sunday, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Chen Xi accused Lai of “obstinately clinging” to his “independent position” and “inciting confrontation” between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, aiming to “seek independence by force”.

“The People’s Liberation Army regularly conducts training activities around the island of Taiwan precisely to deter the reckless actions of the independents and attempts at external interference,” Chen said.

“It’s perfectly legitimate and irreproachable,” the spokesman added, in a reference to Chinese military operations around the island.

Beijing considers Taiwan Chinese territory and does not exclude the use of force to take control.

Beijing mobilizes almost daily warships, fighters and coastal guard vessels in the vicinity of the island, whose sovereignty it claims, a position rejected by Taipei.