“I would like to reiterate that the continuous activities of the People’s Liberation Army (around Taiwan) are not helpful to cross-strait relations nor to the peace and stability of the region,” Tsai said.
“As we are facing the expansion of authoritarianism, we can only but strengthen the country’s combat capabilities and toughness to secure our national security and interests,” said Tsai.
Meanwhile, China accused the US of “publicly hyping” the passage on Thursday of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon through the strait, adding that its forces monitored the ship the entire time.
“The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army organised troops to monitor the US ship’s entire passage and was fully cognizant of all its actions,” the command’s spokesperson Colonel Shi Yi said in a brief statement posted to social media.
The US says the strait is international waters beyond the territorial sea of any coastal state.
“Chung-Hoon’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The United States military flies, sails and operates anywhere international law allows,” the Japan-based 7th Fleet said in a statement.
China’s attempts to intimidate Taiwan militarily have risen to new heights in recent months, raising concerns in Washington that Beijing is growing closer to using force.
That has included firing missiles into the sea and sending planes and ships across the dividing line in the Taiwan Strait in August in response to a visit to the island by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Last month, it sent a record-breaking 71 planes and seven ships toward Taiwan in a 24-hour display of force after expressing anger at Taiwan-related provisions in a US annual defence spending bill.
Source: CNA
