President Lai
by Staff Writers
President William Lai convened a high-level national security meeting today, directing the armed forces and relevant government agencies to respond to the military exercises that China announced it had initiated around Taiwan yesterday.
The nation’s military is “fully monitoring” the drills conducted by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), and the Executive Yuan is also focusing on issues related to social stability, according to Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo.
In her statement, Kuo emphasized Taipei’s commitment to “maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region,” which she noted is widely shared by the international community.
“China must acknowledge the reality of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and respect the democratic choices of the Taiwanese people,” she stated, urging China to halt military provocations that threaten regional peace and Taiwan’s democracy.
Kuo further urged China to recognize the goodwill expressed by the president on National Day and to address its domestic economic issues instead of resorting to military threats against neighboring nations.
“In the face of external threats, our government will continue to uphold our free and democratic constitutional system, fully confident in our ability to protect national security,” Kuo said.
National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu informed reporters that the drills are “inconsistent” with international standards, which require advance notice for live-fire exercises in open waters.
Wu also mentioned that the exercise, named “Joint Sword-2024B,” contravenes the “fundamental spirit” of the UN Charter, which mandates peaceful conflict resolution among member states.
“The president has called for a national security meeting in response to the threat posed by China’s military, issuing clear directives,” Wu added.
Government agencies are also preparing for any potential actions from China that could impact Taiwan’s society and economy, he noted.
In Washington, the US Department of State expressed concern over China’s “unwarranted” and potentially provocative military drills near Taiwan.
“The United States is deeply troubled by the PLA’s joint military exercises in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan,” said department spokesperson Matthew Miller.
Miller characterized China’s military response to a routine annual speech as “unwarranted” and a risk for escalation.
The PLA’s announcement of military exercises earlier today indicated they would commence immediately but did not specify their duration. Wu mentioned that the government is “watching closely” to see if the drills will be extended.
China’s military exercise announcement followed just four days after Lai’s National Day speech, where he stated that China has “no right to represent Taiwan” and reaffirmed that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are “not subordinate” to one another.
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning criticized Lai for allegedly promoting the idea of “Taiwan independence” and accused him of attempting to escalate tensions across the Taiwan Strait for political purposes.
