Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry has condemned China’s intensified military maneuvers in the first island chain, including naval deployments and frequent airspace incursions. On Wednesday, the ministry stated that Beijing is undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
The ministry warned that China’s actions are escalating regional tensions and disrupting international shipping and trade. It called on Beijing to halt its military intimidation and respect international laws, including the United Nations Charter, which prohibits threats against another nation’s sovereignty.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jeff Liu (劉永健) reaffirmed Taiwan’s resolve to defend its sovereignty and democracy, calling on global democracies to support Taiwan against authoritarian expansion. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has criticized Beijing’s economic and military coercion, and President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has urged China to replace aggression with dialogue, stating that “raising fists cannot earn respect but opening hands can.”
Over the past three days, 72 Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels were detected operating near Taiwan. This included 53 aircraft, of which 23 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, and 11 warships. The ministry reported that Taiwan’s armed forces remain on high alert, using aircraft, naval ships, and land-based missile systems to monitor and respond to the incursions.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office has defended the military activities, accusing Taiwan of colluding with external forces to promote independence and insisting that these measures were necessary to safeguard China's sovereignty. Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian (朱鳳蓮) specifically criticized President Lai’s recent diplomatic visits to Pacific allies and transit through the United States, labeling them as provocations.