Taiwan says 'China's military pressure urges us to be prepared for combat'

Taiwan's Defence Minister on Tuesday said that military pressure from Beijing was an opportunity to enhance island nation's military combat reiness. Taiwan's Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng noted that Chinese military manoeuvres near Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zones (IZ) put much pressure on Taipei military forces.

"This pressure is also a boost, urging us to be prepared for combat." said Kuo-cheng

His response comes as Taiwan prepares for its National Day celebration which will be held on October 10. On Monday, Beijing deployed 56 military aircraft in largest show of force to date which went on for three days. In response, Taiwanese Air Force scrambled its fighter planes and monitored movement of Chinese warplanes on its air defence system, ministry said.

US slams China over 'provocative' military activity near Taiwan

United States on Monday has said that Chinese military activity near Taiwan is provocative. During her briefing, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that Washington remains concerned by People's Republic of China's provocative military activity near Taiwan. She ded that Chinese military activity is destabilising risk miscalculations and undermines regional peace and stability. US response comes after China sent a record number of warplanes that flew over Taiwan Straits.

"We urge Beijing to seize its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure and coercion against Taiwan, and we have an abiding interest in peace and stability across Taiwan Strait," said Psaki.

"That's why we will continue to assist Taiwan in maintaining a sufficient self-defence capability. We maintain our commitments, as outlined in three communiques, Taiwan Relations Act, and Six Assurances," she said.

Psaki ded that United States' commitment to Taiwan is rock-solid and contributes to maintaining peace and stability across Taiwan Strait and within region. She also informed that US would monitor situation very closely. "We have been clear, privately and publicly, about our concern about PRC's pressure and coercion toward Taiwan, and we will continue to watch situation very closely," she said.

China sends 56 warplanes towards Taiwan 

In one of its most aggressive stances against Taiwan, Beijing deployed a record 56 military planes towards Taiwan’s sovereign airspace. Taiwan’s defence ministry on October 4 said that first sortie consisted of 52 jets, including 34 J-16 fighter aircraft and 12 H-6 bombers that flew near island’s air corridor. After that, at least four Chinese J-16s entered a southwestern part of Taiwan's air defence identification zone, Taiwan’s defence ministry stated in a document on Twitter. Taiwanese Air Force scrambled to intercept jets out of island, flagging China’s attempts of incursions, Taiwan’s defence ministry furr stated. 

With inputs from agencies 

Image: AP