Taiwan says China's military actions are greatest source of regional instability

Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai has directly confronted China's escalating military posturing, unequivocally stating that Beijing's ongoing military activities are the "greatest source of regional unease and instability." This strong assertion comes at a critical juncture, coinciding with the Chinese navy's announcement of deploying a carrier task force for training exercises in the Western Pacific, a move that further heightens regional tensions.

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The People's Republic of China continues to conduct military exercises of various scales and types in the Taiwan Strait region, the Indo-Pacific region, the South China Sea, and even around Japan, affecting navigational safety.

Premier Cho's remarks, made ahead of the second anniversary of President Lai Ching-te's inauguration, underscore Taiwan's deep-seated concerns regarding China's persistent military pressure. He highlighted that China's exercises, conducted across the Taiwan Strait, Indo-Pacific, South China Sea, and even near Japan, pose a direct threat to navigational safety and regional stability. This direct accusation from Taiwan's leadership frames China's actions not as routine military drills, but as deliberate provocations aimed at destabilizing the region.

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This is the greatest source of regional unease and instability.

In response to China's military maneuvers and its refusal to engage in dialogue with President Lai, whom Beijing labels a "separatist," Premier Cho forcefully reiterated Taiwan's identity as a "sovereign and independent country." He reiterated Taiwan's consistent principle of seeking "healthy and orderly exchanges" and "dialogue based on equality and dignity" across the Taiwan Strait. This stance reflects Taiwan's commitment to maintaining peace while firmly defending its autonomy and democratic way of life against Beijing's assertive claims.

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This is a routine training organised in accordance with the annual plan, which aims to enhance the military's capability to fulfil its missions, and is fully in compliance with international law and practice.

From Taiwan's perspective, China's military actions are not merely a geopolitical issue but a direct existential threat. The constant military drills, incursions into Taiwan's air defense identification zone, and the deployment of naval assets are viewed as a systematic attempt to intimidate and coerce the island into submission. While international media often reports on these events as part of the broader US-China strategic competition, for Taiwan, it is a daily reality that impacts its security, economy, and the psychological well-being of its citizens. The call for dialogue, framed within the principles of equality and dignity, represents Taiwan's persistent effort to de-escalate tensions and find a peaceful resolution, even as it strengthens its own defenses.

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The Republic of China, Taiwan's formal name, is a "sovereign and independent country".