Taiwan defence ministry says Chinese drills seriously violated island's sovereignty
FILE PHOTO: A Taiwan flag can be seen at Liberty Square in Taipei, Taiwan, July 28, 2022. REUTERS/Ann Wang
TAIPEI: Taiwan's defence ministry said on Wednesday (Aug 3) that Chinese military drills have violated United Nations rules and invaded Taiwan's territorial space, amid high tensions as US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits the island.
"Some of the areas of China's drills breached into ... (Taiwan's) territorial waters," defence ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang said at a press conference. "This is an irrational move to challenge the international order."
Taiwan's defence ministry said the island will firmly defend its security, counter any move that violates territorial sovereignty and enhance its alertness level with the principle of not asking for war.
The defence ministry added that China continues to launch psychological warfare on Taiwan, and that citizens should not believe in rumours and report any fake news to the government.
Beijing demonstrated its anger with Pelosi's presence on an island that it says is part of China with a burst of military activity in the surrounding waters, summoning the US ambassador in Beijing and announcing the suspension of several agricultural imports from Taiwan.
Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen struck a defiant tone on Wednesday as she hosted Pelosi.
"Facing deliberately heightened military threats, Taiwan will not back down. We will ... continue to hold the line of defence for democracy," Tsai said at an event with the US House Speaker in Taipei.
The administration of President Joe Biden said in the run-up to the visit that US policy towards Taiwan remained unchanged.
This means support for its government while diplomatically recognising Beijing over Taipei, and opposing a formal independence declaration by Taiwan or a forceful takeover by China.
