The number of PLA ships and aircraft crossing the "median line" of the Strait has increased, possibly related to recent high-level visits to Taiwan? Ministry of Defense responds.
On the afternoon of May 9, Colonel Jiang Bin, Deputy Director of the Ministry of National Defense News Bureau and spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, released a statement regarding recent military-related issues.
Reporter: According to reports, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has recently organized naval and air forces to conduct joint combat readiness patrols around Taiwan Island, and main battle ships have entered the southwestern waters of the Penghu Islands. Some analysts believe that the increase in the number of PLA ships and aircraft crossing the "median line of the Taiwan Strait" may be related to recent high-level visits by Taiwan officials. What is your comment on this?
Jiang Bin: Taiwan is a part of China, and there is no such thing as a "median line of the Taiwan Strait." The PLA's military actions in the relevant areas are completely legitimate and reasonable. "Taiwan independence" is the root cause of the disruption of peace in the Taiwan Strait, and we will never tolerate or condone it. The PLA will continue to resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity with concrete actions and firmly maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has increased military activities near Taiwan, including joint readiness patrols and naval formations entering the waters southwest of Penghu. This escalation is reportedly linked to recent high-level visits by Taiwanese officials. The PLA maintains that Taiwan is part of China and will continue to assert its military presence in the region to defend national sovereignty.
- PLA has increased the number of vessels and aircraft crossing the 'median line' of the Taiwan Strait.
- Recent military activities are linked to high-level visits by Taiwanese officials.
- The PLA asserts that Taiwan is part of China and denies the existence of a 'median line'.
- The PLA will continue to take actions to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.