China test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Wednesday morning, the first they have fired over the Pacific Ocean since the 1980s. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry condemned the militaristic show of force this Thursday, stating that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) continues to carry out military actions in the region that threaten the peaceful status quo.
Reaffirming its commitment to regional security and stability, the Ministry expressed its disappointment in the PLA’s actions, claiming the test is of global concern. The Foreign Ministry urged China to be rational, exercise self-restraint, and cease actions that undermine regional peace and stability or escalate regional tensions, adding that this is the only way China can meet the expectations of other countries in the region.
The Ministry pointed out concerns other countries in the Indo-Pacific have raised about China’s behavior, and stated that Taiwan will continue cooperating with like-minded nations to help curb authoritarian expansion and maintain peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.
This Wednesday, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force transited through the Taiwan Strait for the first time in response to a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft’s intrusion into Japan’s sovereign airspace back in August. The United States, Canada, and Germany are among some of the nations who have made transits through the Taiwan Strait before.
Cabinet spokesperson Li Hui-chih (李慧芝) neglected to comment on the issue following a Cabinet meeting, but condemned China’s dummy warhead test.