President Tsai Cautions Beijing to Exercise Restraint
China Times, October 7, 2021
Before the National Day on October 10, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) air crafts intruded the southwest airspace of Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), and the number of sorties repeatedly reached a new high. As the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, President Tsai Ing-wen expressed in the ruling DPP Party’s central standing committee meeting yesterday that "I want to warn the Beijing authorities, be restrained from going too far and accidentally sparking conflict across the Strait.” Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng stated in the Legislative Yuan that the so-called "accidentally sparking conflict" is not necessarily a shooting, it may be "a military aircraft approaching." We will strictly require our fighter pilots remain calm. He emphasized that "Taiwan will not make any provocations, and we will absolutely abide by it and not fire the first shot."
According to statistics from the Ministry of National Defense (MND), the total number of aircraft intruding ADIZ last year reached more than 380 sorties, and there have been more than 600 sorties up to early October this year. From October 1 to 5, there were 150 sorties, almost all of which were fighter jets, which attracted international attention. After President Joe Biden of the United States stated for the first time at the White House on October 5 that he had discussed Taiwan issues with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and both agreed to abide by the Taiwan Agreements, then the PLA’s air crafts did not appear yesterday.
President Tsai stated at the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) central standing committee meeting yesterday that the actions on the other side have seriously undermined regional peace and stability. She called on Beijing to exercise restraint and avoid accidental conflict.
Wang Yunfei, a senior researcher at the China Policy Research Institute, said in an interview on the 6th that the PLA fighter jets have been deployed in the southwest airspace of Taiwan recently because of the surrounding multinational warships and planes operating in the Bashi Channel and the South China Sea. Their purpose is to demonstrate muscle to China, and to support in Taiwan in a disguise. With military support, Ms. Tsai’s speech stressing avoidance of accidental conflicts was intended to show her presence in multinational military operations.
Wang said that the People’s Liberation Army’s normal patrol did not intrude Taiwan’s airspace and launch the first strike, and there is no reason for a cross-strait crisis. Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu recently stated that "Taiwan will fight to the end", and Minister Chiu echoed that Taiwan will not launch the first strike. It seems a two-department “duet” played by foreign and defense ministers, in a hope to cater to multinational military exercises, but also to avoid wars between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. This is not only to play up the mainland threat, but also to confine the potential crises of this move within a controllable range.
The Foreign and National Defense Committee and Finance Committee of the Legislative Yuan jointly reviewed the draft of the "Special Regulations on Procurement of Naval and Air Combat Power Enhancement Programs" yesterday. Both the ruling and opposition legislators are concerned about the situation of PLA air craft’s intrusion. Minister Chiu admitted that now is the most critical moment ever since he started service 40 years ago.
He said that compared to the era of “Bombardment of Every Other Day” after the crisis of Kinmen August 23 Artillery Battle in 1958, and the Strait Crisis in 1996, it is now more dangerous than before. There were no "fleet of dozens of fighter jets flying around" at those years. Now it has created a sense of oppression on our side. Not only the whole armed forces, but also the people felt it.
Minister Chiu further explained that in the early days of Kinmen, there was a constant alert at night if there were enemy situations to be notified, and the feeling of tension was limited to the front lines. During the Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1996, almost all mid-level cadres, including himself, signed the "will" in case of sacrifice, but the pressure was only on the front lines of the outer islands, and the troops on Taiwan proper rarely felt the same. In contrast, now, the entire armed forces and the general public are feeling the pressure.
However, Minister Chiu responded to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Shen Fa-hui’s question that the PLA fighter jets did not cross the strait’s center line this year, and all flew to the west or on the edge of the strait’s center line. In the recent days in October PLA air crafts’ flying routes were specifically in the southwest and southeast airspace.
Yet, are the PLA air force’s intrusion targeting in the areas of Bashi Channel and the South China Sea? Minister Chiu said that he doesn't comment on what others say, but he would like to say in plain words, "If our neighbors are quarreling, we are in the middle of them. Bricks, darts, and knives are flying over our heads from both sides. How can we not be nervous? If you say that it is not targeting at us, it is still doubtful, let alone there is no evidence that it is not targeting at us."
Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Tseng Ming-chung asked how long from now that the CCP has its ability to "comprehensively invade Taiwan"? Minister Chiu stated that Communist China already has the ability to invade Taiwan, but they will consider the cost and price of launching a war. It is estimated that by 2025, the cost of the CCP's invading Taiwan can be kept to a minimum.
KMT Legislator Lai Shi-pao asked that when Minister Wu spoke to mainland China in an interview with the Australian media that Taiwan intends to fight to the end, did he want to replace Minister Chiu? Mr. Chiu said humorously that Minister Wu was too busy with his own jobs and would not replace him. Minister Chiu stated that he does not know how to say harsh words, but what he says is the truth.
From: https://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20211007000386-260118