DEFENSE/Taiwan can exercise self-defense if territorial airspace violated: Minister
Taipei, June 6 (CNA) Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said Thursday that the ministry can invoke the right of self-defense or take countermeasures in the event Chinese military planes fly into Taiwan's territorial airspace.
Koo made the remarks during a legislative committee meeting when asked about the ministry's definition of "first strike" and the right to self-defense.
As Chinese military aircraft have repeatedly flown close to Taiwan, the defense ministry responded earlier this year by updating its definition of "first strike," saying that any incursion into its territorial airspace and waters by aircraft or vessels would be considered a first strike.
On Thursday, Koo said at the legislative session that if China's People's Liberation Army unleashes a first strike, Taiwan's military can invoke the right to self-defense.
Therefore, if the forces of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) attack Taiwanese aircraft, vessels or facilities, Taiwan's main island and outlying islands, or any Chinese aircraft enters Taiwan's territorial airspace or waters which extend 12 nautical miles from its shores, the ministry can exercise the right to self-defense and launch self-defense counterattacks accordingly, Koo added.
In responding to a lawmaker's question whether the two-day large-scale military exercises around Taiwan, called "Joint Sword-2024A," conducted by China last month suggests more rounds of drills using the letters B, C, D later this year, Koo said the ministry continues to monitor the situation around Taiwan and the possibility of further Chinese drills cannot be discounted.
Related News
ANALYSIS/Beijing to continue pressure on Taiwan until mid-June: Scholars
May 31: Taiwan to counter China's economic coercion after tariff cut suspension
May 25: China's military drills hurt cross-strait stability: Presidential Office
May 24: 46 PLA aircraft cross Taiwan Strait median line: Defense ministry
FEATURE/First civilian defense chief in a decade, Wellington Koo faces reform challenge
- Much of China's military drill 'livestream' pre-recorded: Defense ministerA significant portion of China's "livestream" of the Joint Sword-2024B military drills it staged around Taiwan on Oct. 14 was pre-recorded, Taiwan's Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said Thursday.10/17/2024 09:21 PM
- China coast guard 'patrols' around Taiwan military in nature: MinisterChinese coast guard ships deployed in conjunction with Chinese Navy vessels in military exercises held near Taiwan should be seen as part of the drills and not just law enforcement, Taiwan's defense minister said Thursday.10/17/2024 05:24 PM
- Taiwan expected to take delivery of U.S. attack drones by 2030The government on Tuesday identified the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) as the winning bidder for an arms procurement package for two types of U.S. attack drones scheduled to be delivered by 2030.10/15/2024 06:44 PM
- Business
U.S. dollar down in Taipei trading
10/18/2024 10:25 AM - Society
Taiwan headline news
10/18/2024 10:22 AM - Business
Taiwan shares open higher
10/18/2024 09:14 AM - Culture
20 'Yetis' to appear at Daan Forest Park's Nuit Blanche in November
10/17/2024 11:34 PM - Society
Taiwan on course to become super-aged society by 2025
10/17/2024 11:18 PM