The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned China’s Joint Sword-2024B military drills around Taiwan and called on Beijing to immediately cease provocation Oct. 14.
Such exercises are a challenge to the international rules-based order and gravely undermine regional peace and stability, the MOFA said, adding that the attempt to unilaterally change the status quo and threaten Taiwan’s democracy followed President Lai Ching-te’s Oct. 10 National Day address in which he urged China to jointly safeguard prosperity.
The ministry also expressed appreciation to the U.S., European Union and Japan for their responses to China’s behavior.
The U.S. Department of State issued a statement Oct. 13 to convey serious concern over the People’s Liberation Army’s military exercises in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan. It asserted that it was unreasonable for China to respond to an annual speech with intimidation and urged the country to act with restraint and refrain from any further action that could jeopardize regional stability.
Additionally, the European External Action Service released a statement Oct. 14 that said China’s military drills risk escalating regional tensions and reiterated that Taiwan Strait peace is strategically significant to global security.
During an interview Oct. 14, Japan Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba similarly noted that peace and security around Taiwan is very important to the country and the region, adding that the government would closely monitor the situation and be ready to respond if necessary.
The MOFA called on all nations to recognize China’s expansionist military ambitions and back Taiwan with substantive actions to uphold the values of freedom and democracy and ensure an open and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (POC-E)
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