by Francis Tuschek, Staff Writer
President William Lai reassured the public yesterday of the government’s dedication to protecting Taiwan’s democracy and national security following China’s extensive military exercises around the island.
Lai shared his remarks on Facebook after a high-level national security meeting, responding to the announcement from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) about military drills, dubbed “Joint Sword-2024B,” taking place in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas. This exercise was described as a direct warning against Taiwan’s independence movements.
The drills were announced just days after Lai’s National Day speech, where he asserted that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has “no right to represent Taiwan” and emphasized that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are “not subordinate” to one another.
Lai criticized China’s military actions as an attempt to intimidate neighboring countries and destabilize the region, diverging from international expectations. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upholding Taiwan’s democratic constitutional framework and resisting external pressures.
He also reiterated the desire for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, stating that Taiwan aims for constructive exchanges based on mutual respect.
In his National Day address, Lai expressed Taiwan’s willingness to collaborate with China on shared concerns, like pandemic response, to promote peace and prosperity. He urged Beijing to positively influence global affairs and contribute to regional stability.
China’s military exercises involved a record 125 aircraft, including the aircraft carrier Liaoning, with many detected in Taiwan’s air defense identification zone.
The Ministry of National Defense reported that normal shipping traffic continued amid the drills. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned China’s provocative actions, warning that they escalate tensions in the Taiwan Strait and the wider Indo-Pacific region.
Lai’s speech extended an olive branch to China, which he claimed responded with intimidation tactics undermining Taiwan’s democracy and regional peace. The ministry criticized China for its provocative behavior and called on the international community to support democratic Taiwan and uphold the rules-based international order.
National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu highlighted that the Chinese drills violated international protocols requiring advance notice for live-fire exercises at sea and breached the UN Charter’s principles for peaceful dispute resolution.
A map released by China’s military indicated extensive areas surrounding Taiwan where the exercises took place. The PLA’s Eastern Theater Command announced the drills’ successful completion, stating they were a strong warning to advocates of Taiwan’s independence and a demonstration of China’s commitment to its sovereignty.
In response, Taiwan’s defense ministry positioned warships for monitoring and deployed mobile missile and radar units to track maritime movements.
總統賴清德昨日向公眾保證，政府致力於保護台灣的民主和國家安全，這是在中國在島嶼周圍進行大規模軍事演習之後的聲明。
賴清德在高層國安會議後於臉書上分享了他的看法，回應中國人民解放軍（PLA）宣布的名為「聯合劍-2024B」的軍事演習，該演習將在台灣海峽及周邊地區進行。這次演習被形容為對台灣獨立運動的直接警告。
演習的宣布距離賴清德的國慶演說只有幾天，在演說中他聲稱中華人民共和國（PRC）「無權代表台灣」，並強調台灣海峽兩岸「不隸屬」於彼此。
賴清德批評中國的軍事行動是企圖威脅鄰近國家並破壞該地區的穩定，這與國際的期望相悖。他重申政府堅持維護台灣的民主憲政體系和抵抗外部壓力的承諾。
他還重申希望在台灣海峽實現和平與穩定，表示台灣希望基於互相尊重進行建設性的交流。
在他的國慶演說中，賴清德表示台灣願意與中國在共同關注的議題上合作，如疫情應對，以促進和平與繁榮。他呼籲北京在全球事務中發揮正面影響，為區域穩定作出貢獻。
中國的軍事演習涉及創紀錄的125架飛機，包括航空母艦遼寧，其中許多被發現在台灣的空防識別區內。
國防部報告指出，在演習期間，正常的航運交通持續進行。外交部譴責中國的挑釁行為，並警告這會加劇台灣海峽及整個印太地區的緊張局勢。
賴清德的演講向中國伸出了橄欖枝，但他聲稱中國以威脅策略回應，破壞了台灣的民主和地區和平。外交部批評中國的挑釁行為，呼籲國際社會支持民主台灣並維護基於規則的國際秩序。
國安會秘書長吳釗燮強調，中國的軍事演習違反了國際規範，要求在海上實彈演習提前通知，並違反了聯合國憲章有關和平解決爭端的原則。
中國軍方發布的地圖顯示，演習在台灣周圍的廣泛區域進行。PLA的東部戰區司令部宣布演習成功完成，並表示這是對台灣獨立倡導者的強烈警告，展示了中國對其主權的承諾。
作為回應，台灣國防部部署艦艇進行監視，並派遣移動導彈和雷達單位追蹤海上動態。
