After spate of Chinese patrols, Taiwan says it's prepared to defend itself

Record ID: 904079

  • Title: After spate of Chinese patrols, Taiwan says it's prepared to defend itself
  • Date: 25th July 2017
  • Summary: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (JULY 25, 2017) (REUTERS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** MILITARY OFFICIALS ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) TAIWAN DEFENCE MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, CHEN CHUNG-CHI, SAYING: "The Communist Party of China's People's Liberation Army has never loosened or given up on the idea of resolving the Taiwan issue through the use of military force. This is common knowledge. What the national army has to do is to make preparations. Of course the Republic of China loves peace, we will not provoke war, but we will not back down or evade in the face of those threats. This is our basic position." REPORTERS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) TAIWAN DEFENCE MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, CHEN CHUNG-CHI, SAYING: "The most important thing now is of course that we are able to have a complete grasp of our adjacent sea and airspace. In this process, no matter if it is (Chinese) air force fighter jets, reconnaissance ships or even deployments of land-based missiles, those are all within the realm of our considerations. We will make those preparations, no matter if they (the Chinese) come or not, (and) if they don't show up, we will train our soldiers according to the enemy's situation so that we are prepared to respond to all the different threats." TAIWAN DEFENCE MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, CHEN CHUNG-CHI, WALKING DOWN FROM STAGE, SHAKING HANDS WITH MILITARY OFFICIALS CHEN LEAVING ROOM WITH MILITARY OFFICIALS STATUE OUTSIDE TAIWAN'S DEFENCE MINISTRY EXTERIOR OF TAIWAN'S DEFENCE MINISTRY
  • Embargoed: 8th August 2017 07:06
  • Keywords: Taiwan-China Chinese military threats cross-strait relations military threats Taiwan defence against China Chinese patrols
  • Location: TAIPEI, TAIWAN / IN AIR
  • City: TAIPEI, TAIWAN / IN AIR
  • Country: Taiwan
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016R7SYF9
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Taiwan is prepared to defend itself against China if necessary, the self-ruled island's defense ministry said on Tuesday (July 25), in a strongly worded response to recent flybys by Chinese warplanes near the island China claims as a wayward province.
    China's military has flown several fighter and reconnaissance aircraft near Taiwan for training exercises in the past few days, according to the ministry. "The Republic of China loves peace... but we will not back down or evade in the face of those threats," the ministry spokesman Chen Chung-chi told a news briefing.
    China has yet to offer an account of the recent drills. China's air force said earlier this month its fighters and bombers had recently conducted "multiple" long-range drills far out at sea, including flying near Japan and Taiwan.
    Beijing has never ruled out the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, and has warned any moves towards formal independence could prompt an armed response. Proudly democratic Taiwan has shown no interest in being run by autocratic China.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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