In response to the military exercises conducted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) near Taiwan, the spokesperson for the Office of the President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Guo Yahui stated that President Lai Ching-te convened a high-level national security meeting this morning (October 14) and directed relevant units on the response. Lai reaffirmed that the government will continue to defend the constitutional system of democracy and freedom and safeguard national security.
The CCP’s CCTV quoted Li Xi, spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army, who announced that the Eastern Theater Command has organized land, naval, air, and rocket forces to conduct the “Joint Sword – 2024B” military exercises in the Taiwan Strait, northern Taiwan, southern Taiwan, and areas east of Taiwan.
Regarding the CCP’s expected announcement of military exercises near Taiwan today, Guo Yahui, the spokesperson for the Taiwan Presidential Office, stated that the current consensus of the international community is to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and Indo-Pacific region. CCP should acknowledge the reality of Taiwan as part of the Republic of China and respect the Taiwanese people’s choice of democracy and freedom, refrain from military provocations, and avoid threatening Taiwan’s democracy and freedom. President Lai had already convened a high-level national security meeting this morning to address the situation.
President Lai Ching-te posted on Facebook today, expressing his commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and hoping for equal, dignified, healthy, and orderly dialogue and exchanges between both sides of the strait. He emphasized that this is the consistent stance and unchanging attitude of Taiwan. With the CCP announcing military exercises near the Taiwan Strait today, he and the national security team have convened meetings to stay informed about CCP’s movements. The government will pay attention to related livelihood issues, maintain social stability, and the armed forces and coast guard will remain vigilant in their positions on land and at sea. President Lai thanked all colleagues for their hard work.
President Lai mentioned in his National Day speech on October 10 that Taiwan is willing to cooperate with the CCP on aspects like epidemic prevention, pursuing mutual prosperity, bringing benefits to the people on both sides of the strait. He also hopes that the CCP can respond to the expectations of the international community, exert its influence, collaborate with countries worldwide to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Middle East tensions, shoulder international responsibilities with Taiwan for regional and global peace, security, and prosperity.
President Lai stated that the CCP’s initiation of military exercises aims to disrupt the current peace and stability in the region, continuously using force to intimidate surrounding countries, which does not align with the expectations of the international community. In the face of external threats, he assured the people of Taiwan that the government will continue to defend the constitutional system of democracy and freedom, safeguard democratic Taiwan, and protect national security.
The spokesperson for the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China, Li Huizhi, emphasized today that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and Indo-Pacific region are not only essential for international security and prosperity but should also be a shared responsibility and goal of all members in the region.
Li Huizhi pointed out that the CCP’s disregard for goodwill and provocative military exercises go against the regulations of international law that require prior notification. Furthermore, using military force to threaten other countries contradicts the fundamental spirit of the United Nations Charter for resolving disputes peacefully. She emphasized that Taiwan will maintain close communication with its allies and seek their support.
The Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of China released a statement today regarding the CCP’s announcement of military exercises in the Eastern Theater Command. The Ministry had already anticipated potential developments on October 13 and disclosed the activities of the Liaoning aircraft carrier formation. Minister of National Defense Gu Lisheng, together with important staff, chaired a crisis control meeting this morning, instructing all military personnel to remain vigilant, enhance monitoring, and coordinate closely with units such as the coast guard in necessary responses, ensuring national defense security.
The Taiwan Ministry of Defense explained that the irrational provocation of the CCP’s military exercises not only jeopardizes the security situation in the Taiwan Strait and hinders the positive development of cross-strait relations, but also severely disrupts the security situation in the Indo-Pacific region, threatening the rules-based international order. The Ministry has issued orders to all three branches of the military to review appropriate countermeasures in accordance with the regulations for handling sudden situations during normal military readiness periods. The surveillance system closely monitors the movements of the CCP’s rocket forces, heightened awareness is maintained in outlying island defense zones, and aircraft and ships will respond according to established combat rules to address the situation.
The Taiwan Ministry of Defense stated, “Using military actions to intimidate and engage in acts such as cognitive deterrence and social division against us is a consistent tactic of the CCP.” The Ministry will appropriately disclose maritime and aerial dynamics to ensure combat safety and explain the measures that the military will take. The Ministry urged the media and the public not to be influenced by false or misleading information released by the enemy and called for unity in safeguarding national defense security together.
On the afternoon of October 13, the Taiwan Ministry of Defense announced that the Liaoning aircraft carrier formation of the CCP had entered waters near the Bashi Strait, with anticipated activities in the Western Pacific. The military of Taiwan utilizes joint surveillance and reconnaissance systems and methods to closely monitor relevant movements and maintain vigilance and appropriate responses.
This morning, the Taiwan Ministry of Defense released the dynamic movements of CCP aircraft and vessels, reporting a total of 25 instances of CCP aircraft (including 16 instances of crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait into southwestern and eastern airspace), 7 ships, and 4 government vessels continuing activities around the Taiwan Strait from 6 a.m. on October 13 to 8 a.m. today.
The Taiwan Ministry of Defense emphasized that the military will diligently monitor and respond by utilizing aircraft, ships, and shore-based missile systems.
According to a press release from Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council, the China Coast Guard vessels 2901, 1305, 1303, and 2102 conducted patrols in Taiwan’s surrounding waters today, not entering restricted areas of Taiwanese jurisdiction. The Ocean Affairs Council immediately established an emergency response center and dispatched patrol vessels for online monitoring.
To safeguard Taiwan’s maritime territory and sovereignty, the Director of Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council Chang Chung-lung stated that the Council will continue to employ joint surveillance and reconnaissance methods with allied forces, closely monitoring maritime targets in the surrounding areas, deploying relevant operations meticulously. The Council will assert its law enforcement stance, defending maritime rights and ensuring the safety of fishermen’s activities.
The Mainland Affairs Council declared that the CCP conducted targeted military exercises near Taiwan’s air and sea territory today, posing military threats to Taiwan once again and further undermining the peace desired by the people on both sides. The Council strongly condemned the CCP for disregarding our government’s goodwill, the aspirations of people on both sides for peace, endangering regional maritime and airspace security, disrupting the current state of affairs in the Taiwan Strait, attempting irrational actions that infringe upon our national sovereignty and threaten the life and property security of the Taiwanese people.
The Mainland Affairs Council emphasized that despite the recent increased military and political threats from the CCP towards Taiwan, the Republic of China will not retreat or submit. The military of Taiwan has been fully alert and prepared to respond to the CCP’s movements, ensuring national defense and the safety of its people. The Council reiterated that the existence of the Republic of China is an undeniable reality.
“By not abandoning the use of force against Taiwan and engaging in targeted military exercises, the CCP’s actions constitute an overt provocation to the security situation in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region, as well as a direct challenge to global peace of democratic societies. The CCP’s disregard for international law and the peaceful principles of the United Nations Charter has exposed its intentions to dominate geopolitics, threaten the international order, and further confirmed that its so-called global security initiative is but a falsehood,” reiterated the Mainland Affairs Council.
The Mainland Affairs Council expressed, “We call on the international community to take a serious stance and unite against the threats of authoritarianism and hegemony toward global democratic societies. We also urge the Beijing authorities to recognize the current status of non-subordination between the two sides of the strait, cease the acts of militarism and tyranny, return to peaceful and rational dialogue with the democratically elected government of Taiwan to resolve differences.”