TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's defense minister confirmed on Monday (Nov. 25) that Taiwan has shortened its air raid warning threshold. 

The latest issue of RW Media released on Nov. 22 reported that the Ministry of National Defense “quietly” revised its air raid alert regulations at the end of 2022, shortening the alarm's distance from 70 nautical miles (129 km) to 24 nautical miles (44 km). It estimated this would only give citizens three minutes' warning before an aerial attack. 

According to the news outlet, this document was classified as confidential and few knew of its existence. Therefore, the ministry's revised “Regulations for Air Raid Alert Implementation,” had not been publicized. 

When asked to confirm the change before a Legislative Yuan session on Monday, Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said, “This is mainly due to enemy threats,” per Liberty Times. “China is now adopting a provocative attitude, constantly crossing the Taiwan Strait median line, escalating the threat level.”

Koo said China's attitude undermines peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the surrounding region. He emphasized that the military will conduct surveillance to determine China's intentions and respond accordingly. 

The defense minister stressed the military “could not possibly allow the People's Liberation Army to operate unopposed and necessary countermeasures will be taken.”