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Tsai issues directive for close monitoring of China military activity

ROC Central News Agency

2017/12/28 15:44:58

Taipei, Dec. 28 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said Thursday that Taiwan's armed forces must keep a close watch on China's military movements and take the necessary measures to ensure national security and regional peace and stability.

Speaking a military promotion ceremony, Tsai said China's frequent military activity in East Asia has affected stability in the region to a certain extent.

"We, as a longstanding contributor to regional stability," should keep monitoring China's military movements and take proper measures to maintain national security and the region's peace and stability, she said.

Tsai said her administration strongly supports the military and is firmly committed to national defense reform.

Taiwan's troops should spare no effort to improve their combat readiness, she said, amid concern in the country over several recent training missions by Chinese military aircraft and vessels near Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

Chinese aircraft and vessels have carried out exercises near Taiwan's ADIZ 25 times since August 2016, according to Taiwan's latest national defense report, which was released Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Feng Shih-kuan (馮世寬) said Thursday that the ministry has the necessary national security mechanisms in place to protect the nation's borders.

If something unusual occurs during the movement of Chinese military aircraft or naval vessels near Taiwan, the defense ministry will report to the relevant administrative agencies and will inform the public, he said.

The armed forces will continue their efforts to safeguard the country's territory and protect the people, Feng said in response to a question on whether the public has the right to be informed about China's military exercises near Taiwan.

Earlier this month, he had said his ministry would no longer issue reports about such activities unless something unusual occurred.

(By Yeh Su-ping and Evelyn Kao)
Enditem/pc