China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said its warships, bombers and reconnaissance aircraft had conducted “necessary drills” around Taiwan on Monday. It described them as routine.
Tsai said Taiwan was resolute in its defense.
“China’s armed forces yesterday sent a large number of military aircraft and naval vessels into our vicinity. Their actions threaten Taiwan and other-like minded countries in the region,” Tsai said.
“These actions only serve to strengthen our resolve. Our military forces have the capacity, determination, and commitment to defend Taiwan and not allow coercion to dictate our own future,” she said.
Tsai also said the Trump administration had notified Taipei that its pilots could train at the Luke Air Force Base in Arizona.
“It enhances their abilities to defend our air space. I want to express my appreciation to the U.S. government for the announcement,” she said.
Tsai was speaking at a forum co-hosted by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to mark the 40th anniversary of Taiwan-U.S. ties under the Taiwan Relations Act, following Washington’s decision to ditch formal recognition of Taiwan in favor of China in 1979.
The event was attended by a delegation led by Paul Ryan, the former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The United States has no formal ties with Taiwan but is bound by law to help provide the island with the means to defend itself and is its main source of arms.
‘Encirclement Patrols’
China has repeatedly carried out what it calls “island encirclement patrols” in the past few years.The People’s Liberation Army Daily said the goal of the drills was to practice a “combined firepower assault” that included electronic jamming from aircraft under the protection of fighter jets.
The paper cited a Chinese military representative as saying the exercises were held annually.
Ryan said the United States considered any military threat to Taiwan a concern and urged China to stop, saying it was counterproductive.
“I urge Beijing to choose the path of peace, respect, and civility by resuming dialogue with Taiwan’s democratically elected administration,” he said.
China has stepped up pressure on Taiwan and suspects Tsai is pushing for the island’s formal independence. That is a red line for China, which has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control.
Tsai says she wants to maintain the status quo with China but will defend Taiwan’s security and democracy.
The visit by U.S. officials comes weeks after Tsai said the United States was responding positively to Taipei’s requests for new arms sales to bolster its defenses in the face of growing pressure from China.
Washington sent Navy and Coast Guard ships through the narrow strait separating the island from the mainland last month, part of an increase in the frequency of U.S. movement through the strategic waterway to show support for Taipei.
