A total of 10 Chinese warships and 10 Taiwanese warships had approached the median line, an imaginary line the marks the border between China and Taiwan in the Taiwan Strait.
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PASCAL S BIN SAJU, BONIFASIUS JOSIE SUSILO HARDIANTO
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Taiwan military soldiers fire the 155 mm Howitzer during a live fire anti landing drill in the Pingtung county, southern Taiwan on August 9, 2022.
TAIPEI, TUESDAY — The situation in East Asia, particularly in the Taiwan Strait, is still shrouded in uncertainty. There is a deadlock in the border regions, Reuters reported on Tuesday (9/8/2022), citing a source. A total of 10 Chinese warships and 10 Taiwanese warships had approached the median line, an imaginary line the marks the border between China and Taiwan in the Taiwan Strait.
The median line has been maintained since the 1950s. According to Taiwan's Defense Ministry, the line’s existence is "fact". However, since Thursday (4/8), when China began the military exercises that ended on Sunday, Chinese ships and aircraft violated it frequently. China does not recognize the median line.
Taiwan's Defense Ministry said 16 Chinese fighter jets were also observed crossing the median line entering Taiwan's air defense zone. In addition, Chinese military aircraft and warships were also reported entering Taiwan waters up to 12 miles from the coast. The intrusion occurred as China and Taiwan held separate military exercises. However, Taipei said it had not been provoked and kept the Taiwan Strait open to international shipping.
At a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said the increasing Chinese military activity actually aimed to control the East China Sea and the South China Sea via the Taiwan Strait. According to him, China’s main ambition was to overturn the status quo in the Asia-Pacific and prevent countries in the region from helping Taiwan.
In response to Wu’s comments, China's Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing said Taipei was distorting the truth and obscuring the facts. The People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command said the military exercises it held were solely intended to hone the command’s readiness and skills.
The military exercises focused on anti-submarine operations and naval attacks. In addition, China also deployed early warning aircraft and signal jammers.
In contrast, during a military exercise held on Tuesday in Pingtung in southern Taiwan, Taipei deployed a number of howitzers. Hundreds of shells were launched from land towards the sea.
According to Taipei, the exercise was a self-defense simulation against a possible attack from China.
Lou Woei-jye, spokesman for Taiwan's 8th Army Corps, said the drills, which involved hundreds of soldiers and 40 howitzers, would last until Thursday.
AFP/SAM YEH
Taiwan military soldiers fire the 155-inch howitzers during a live fire anti landing drill in the Pingtung county, southern Taiwan on August 9, 2022.
‘Status quo’
According to Wu, China's military drills were aimed to prepare to invade Taiwan.
"China is using the exercise to prepare for an invasion of Taiwan. After the exercise ends, China may attempt this regularly to destroy the status quo in the Taiwan Strait," he said.
Wu added that such efforts could involve large-scale military exercises, missile launches, disinformation campaigns, and increasing economic pressure to weaken the morale of the Taiwanese people. He said such a move threatened the region’s security and demonstrated China's geostrategic ambitions. Wu also urged the international community to put a stop to China's ambition.
Earlier this week, Beijing firmly defended its military exercises, saying it was firm, strong and appropriate. It had taken the action in response to provocation by the United States, referring to last Wednesday’s visit to Taiwan by US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Beijing also urged the US to reflect on and correct its mistakes.
Responding to the current situation in East Asia, US President Joe Biden said in public comments on Monday morning in Washington that he was concerned about China's actions in the region. He said, however, that he was not worried about Taiwan.
“I'm concerned they [China] are moving as much as they are," Biden said. "But I don't think they're going to do anything more than they are.”
Separately, US Undersecretary of Defense Colin Kahl said the US military would continue to patrol the Taiwan Strait in the coming weeks. A Pentagon official said China would not try to attack Taiwan for at least the next two years.
Meanwhile, on returning to the US, Pelosi said her visit to Taiwan was absolutely worth it. "We can't allow the Chinese government to isolate Taiwan," she said in an interview with NBC News. China had succeeded in expelling Taiwan from the World Health Organization, but China could not dictate who can and cannot go to Taiwan, said Pelosi.
The US has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but is legally bound to ensure that the island can defend itself. Pelosi said her visit to Taiwan was part of US efforts to pay attention to the Asia-Pacific region, efforts that were led by President Biden and had the support of the US Congress.
However, as reported, the visit was considered "very damaging" for China. In response to Pelosi's visit to Taipei, Beijing cut its lines of communication with Washington, including dialogue and cooperation in defense and climate change. (AP/AFP/REUTERS)
This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.
