Lai orders heightened security surveillance amid Middle East tensions

Taipei, June 19 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) has instructed Taiwan's military to bolster its security surveillance in light of escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.

Speaking in a routine meeting with military officials on Thursday, Lai noted that the conflict in the Middle East has not deterred China from continuing its pressure along the First and Second Island Chains, according to a statement released by the Presidential Office.

On the contrary, the Chinese aircraft carriers, the Shandong and Liaoning, have recently been active in nearby waters, he said.

Taiwan must remain in close contact with its allies to ensure it can respond swiftly under all circumstances, Lai added.

The president said the United States Indo-Pacific Command has raised its Force Protection Condition level across the region and he directed the Ministry of National Defense and the national security team to closely monitor the situation and its impact on regional security,