China's military actions around Taiwan 'irresponsible'

ROC Central News Agency

2018/12/18 21:35:33

Taipei, Dec. 18 (CNA) The Presidential Office said Tuesday that any military actions that escalate tension in the region and damage relations between Taiwan and China are irresponsible and are not welcomed by the international community.

Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang (黃重諺) made the statement after the Ministry of National Defense (MND) confirmed that a number of Chinese aircraft and military vessels were operating near Taiwan that day.

As a member of the international community, it is irresponsible to launch any military actions that can disturb security and stability in the region and negatively impact cross-Taiwan Strait relations, Huang said in the statement.

Such actions are not welcomed by the international community either, Huang continued, adding that it is a shared responsibility and objective for all parties, including both sides of the strait, to maintain peace and stability in the region.

According to the MND, People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, including Xian H-6 bombers, Shaanxi Y-8 transport aircraft and Sukhoi-30 fighter jets, departed from the PLA's Huiyang air base in Guangdong Province earlier Tuesday.

The aircraft flew over the Bashi Channel, the waterway south of Taiwan, on their way to the West Pacific Ocean for routine distant-sea exercises, the MND said.

Two PLA combat ships were also been detected traveling outside Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (AIDZ) in the West Pacific off Taiwan's southeastern coast, the MND said.

The two vessels were thought to be taking part in the same routine distant-sea exercises as the Chinese aircraft, according to the ministry.

The MND said that it was closely monitoring the PLA's movements.

Huang said that the PLA's maneuvers near Taiwan are under the MND's close surveillance and that the ministry has a thorough preparedness plan and every necessary response measure in place to ensure national security.

(By Shih Hsiu-chuan)
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