by Staff Writers
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) condemned China today for its “irrational” and “provocative” military activities, following China’s announcement of drills around Taiwan, described as a “stern warning” to advocates of Taiwan independence.
In a statement, the MND expressed strong disapproval of China’s actions and confirmed the deployment of appropriate forces to protect freedom, democracy, and the sovereignty of the Republic of China.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) revealed that it has initiated military exercises, named “Joint Sword-2024B,” which involve its army, navy, air force, and rocket forces, in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas. These drills serve as a “stern warning” against separatist activities related to Taiwan’s independence.
The exercises are focused on enhancing combat readiness in air and sea operations, establishing comprehensive battlefield control, blockading vital ports, and targeting maritime and land objectives, as stated by the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command.
This announcement comes just days after President William Lai’s National Day speech, in which he asserted that China has “no right to represent Taiwan” and emphasized that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are “not subordinate” to one another.
The MND noted that the president’s address underscored the current state of cross-strait relations and his commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region while promoting cooperation on issues like climate change and epidemic prevention.
The MND criticized the Chinese Communist Party for escalating tensions and undermining peace in the Taiwan Strait, stating that Taiwan’s military would continue to bolster its deterrent capabilities to ensure national security.
The Mainland Affairs Council labeled the military exercises as an “open provocation” to peace and to global democracies, arguing that China’s 2022 “Global Security Initiative” is merely a façade.
The council strongly condemned Beijing’s actions for threatening regional security and disrupting the current status quo across the Taiwan Strait, asserting that the Republic of China would not be intimidated or yield to China’s military threats.
國防部今天譴責中國的軍事行為，稱其為「不理性」和「挑釁性」，這是因為中國宣布在台灣周邊進行演習，並將其描述為對台灣獨立支持者的「嚴厲警告」。
國防部在聲明中對中國的行為表示強烈不滿，並確認已部署適當的軍隊以保護中華民國的自由、民主和主權。
中國人民解放軍（PLA）透露，已展開名為「聯合劍-2024B」的軍事演習，參與的部隊包括陸軍、海軍、空軍和火箭軍，演習地點位於台灣海峽及周邊地區。這些演習作為對台灣獨立相關分裂活動的「嚴厲警告」。
根據解放軍東部戰區的說法，這些演習專注於提升空中和海上作戰的戰鬥準備，建立全面的戰場控制，封鎖重要港口，以及鎖定海上和陸地目標。
這項公告正值賴清德總統國慶演說幾天後，他在演說中強調中國「無權代表台灣」，並強調台灣海峽兩岸「並非隸屬關係」。
國防部指出，總統的演說凸顯了當前的兩岸關係狀態，以及他對於維護區域和平穩定的承諾，同時促進在氣候變遷和流行病防治等議題上的合作。
國防部批評中國共產黨加劇緊張局勢，破壞台灣海峽的和平，表示台灣軍方將持續增強威懾能力，以確保國家安全。
陸委會將這次軍演視為對和平及全球民主的「公開挑釁」，並認為中國於2022年提出的「全球安全倡議」僅是表面文章。
該委員會強烈譴責北京的行為，威脅區域安全並擾亂台灣海峽的現狀，並聲明中華民國不會因中國的軍事威脅而感到恐嚇或屈服。
