Taiwan’s military leaders say there are no signs that the Chinese Communist Party is preparing for a major war with Taiwan, despite the fact that the Chinese military continues to conduct military exercises near the Taiwan Sea.
Taiwan’s Defense Minister Yan De-Fa said in the Taiwan Legislative Yuan on Tuesday (Sept. 29) in response to a question that if the Chinese military were to go to war with Taiwan, it would inevitably conduct large-scale military movements and build up its forces to the east. But there is no sign of such a move yet. He argued that the mainland military “has not violated Taiwan by force, and there are no signs of all-out war.”
Yan’s view is inconsistent with the recent upsurge in tensions in the Taiwan Strait. Recently, Beijing has been exerting increasing military pressure on Taiwan, and various PLA aircraft and warships have repeatedly crossed the centerline of the Taiwan Sea to harass Taiwan, creating a dangerous situation with Taiwan’s military.
According to Yan, the Chinese military has continued to harass Taiwan with military drills and PRC military aircraft crossing the centerline of the Taiwan Strait, but it has remained at “the same level of provocative behavior.
Taiwan’s military currently maintains a peacetime state of readiness and has not raised its alert level, Yan said. A further upgrade from the current level would put it into an emergency readiness phase. The Ministry of National Defense will adjust the readiness level based on the enemy situation, Yan said.
In the event of war, the Taiwan military will fight to the last man in order to defend Taiwan’s sovereignty and democracy, Yen vowed.
Last week, Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense issued a warning in the face of Chinese harassment and threats, saying that Taiwan’s military has the right to defend itself and to fight back.
Taiwan’s military is well-equipped and well-trained, but it is clearly at a disadvantage compared to the Chinese military. The PLA has been accelerating its adoption of advanced weaponry.
Taiwan Executive Yuan President Su Tseng-chang stated in the Legislative Yuan that mainland troops would have to pay a heavy price if they attacked Taiwan, and that the people of Taiwan would defend themselves and their land.
China is angry that the United States has increased its aid to Taiwan. U.S. Secretary of Health Alex Azar visited Taiwan in August. Keith Krach, Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs at the State Department, also visited Taiwan this month.
The United States and Taiwan do not have diplomatic relations, but under U.S. law, the United States is responsible for arms sales to Taiwan. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations with mainland China, the United States has never renounced arms sales to Taiwan.
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