Taiwan president says drills show China is threat to region
Two days of Chinese military aircraft approaching Taiwan demonstrate that Beijing is a threat to the entire region and have displayed Taiwanese even more evidently the true nature of China's government, President Tsai Ing-wen said on Sunday.
Multiple Chinese aircraft flew across the mid-line of the Taiwan Strait and into Taiwan's air defense identification zone on Friday and Saturday, triggering Taiwan to scramble jets to intercept. China claims Taiwan as its territory.
At a news conference in Beijing on Friday about China's U.N. peacekeeping efforts, China announced combat drills near to the Taiwan Strait and denounced what it called collusion between the island and america.The exercises occurred as US Undersecretary for Economic Affairs Keith Krach was in Taipei, the most senior STATE DEPT. office to come in four decades. Talking with reporters, Tsai denounced China's drills.
"I really believe these activities are no help to China's international image, and what's more have put Taiwan's people even more on the guard, understanding better still the real nature of the Chinese Communist regime," she said. "Additionally, other countries in your community also have an improved knowledge of the threat posed by China," Tsai added. "The Chinese Communists must restrain themselves, rather than provoke."
China's air force on Saturday released a video showing exercises by its nuclear-capable H-6 bombers, which were involved in many Chinese fly-bys of Taiwan.One montage shows a simulation of an H-6 attack against an air base that appears by its runway layout to be the key US air force base on Guam.
Taiwan president says does not have any plans to speak to Japan's new PMAsked about this footage and China's decision to release it while Krach was in Taiwan, Tsai said China's recent activities were a threat broader than just to Taiwan. "China's existence is definitely aggressive and can bring a definite threat."
In comments carried by Chinese state media from a forum on relations with Taiwan in the southeastern Chinese city of Xiamen, the number-four leader of the ruling Communist Party on Sunday didn't directly mention the recent drills.
Wang Yang, who heads a largely ceremonial advisory body to China's parliament, reiterated that Taiwan independence was a dead end, and that "counting on foreigners to pump yourself up was to have a risk out of desperation".
"It'll only bring Taiwan risks it cannot bear. We won't tolerate any harm to the country's sovereignty, security and development interests," Wang said in comments created by video.Further friction appears likely as Taiwan and america continue steadily to deepen relations, with Taiwan angling for a free of charge trade agreement.
Taiwan Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said on Sunday the island plans to hold a formal economic dialogue with america, after having what she called informal talks with Krach and his team on issues like supply chain restructuring.
