TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned China on Wednesday for causing a major disruption in the Taiwan Strait with its wargames.
The ministry said China's military drills have “unilaterally undermined peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, unjustifiably raised regional tensions, and interfered with international shipping and trade." The ministry called on Beijing to stop its military intimidation.
MOFA said China has been escalating its political and military coercion against Taiwan and conducting large-scale military buildups in the first island chain. The ministry said this build-up has created insecurity and risk variables in the region, causing trouble for neighboring nations, “confirming that China is the troublemaker that undermines peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”
The ministry said China's provocative actions against Taiwan and regional countries violate the United Nations Charter, which prohibits any country from using force or threats to infringe upon the territorial sovereignty of another country. MOFA demanded China stop violating international law and demonstrate the responsibility expected of a major power.
MOFA said Taiwan would fulfill its international responsibilities, respond calmly to China's military threats, defend its sovereignty and national security, and uphold democracy and freedom. It also called on democracies to join Taiwan to fight authoritarian expansion, prevent the destruction of the status quo, safeguard the rules-based international order, and jointly maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region.
The Ministry of National Defense said on Monday, it was on alert in response to China's announcement of seven reserved airspace zones as part of large-scale military exercises that run through Wednesday. MND Spokesperson Sun Li-fang (孫立方) said in a Tuesday press briefing that China's naval deployment, ranging from Japan's southern islands to the South China Sea, is larger than in 2022.
The MND tracked 53 PLA aircraft, 11 Chinese naval vessels, and eight official ships around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Tuesday and 6 a.m. on Wednesday.
