Taiwan\u2019s defence chief has warned that a Chinese “blockade” would be an act of war and have far-reaching consequences for international trade after Beijing held military exercises to encircle the self-governed island. Taiwanese Defence Minister Wellington Koo made his comments on Wednesday as the Chinese People\u2019s Liberation Army (PLA) continued exercises near the democratically-ruled island after last week carrying out war games that included a simulated blockade. \u201cIf you really want to carry out a so-called blockade, which according to international law is to prohibit all aircraft and ships entering the area, then according to United Nations resolutions it is regarded as a form of war,\u201d Koo said in remarks to reporters at parliament. \u201cI want to stress that drills and exercises are totally different from a blockade, as would be the impact on the international community,\u201d Koo added. China claims Taiwan as its territory and has said it reserves the right to use force to bring it under its control, with the PLA regularly holding drills \u2013 including simulating blockading key ports and assaulting maritime and ground targets \u2013 around the island. Taiwan, also known by its official name the Republic of China, has never been ruled by the People\u2019s Republic of China and rejects Beijing\u2019s sovereignty claims. Beijing also asserts jurisdiction over the entirety of the Taiwan Strait, a 180km-wide (110-mile) waterway separating mainland China from Taiwan. Taiwan and other members of the international community reject Beijing\u2019s claim, with the United States, Japan and several European countries asserting its status as an international waterway. The US navy, in particular, regularly sails through the strait to maintain freedom of navigation rights. Koo, who noted that one-fifth of global freight passes through the strait, said that the international community \u201ccould not sit by and just watch\u201d if China were to impose a blockade. Taiwan\u2019s defence ministry announced earlier on Wednesday that Chinese aircraft carriers, led by the Liaoning carrier, travelled north through the waterway after passing through waters near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas islands. During the previous 24 hours, Taiwan\u2019s military detected 15 Chinese military aircraft and six navy vessels in the skies and waters around the island, the defence ministry said. \u201cThe Liaoning is passing through the Taiwan Strait now, sailing north along the west of the median line and we are closely monitoring it,\u201d Koo said. Taiwan has reported almost daily Chinese military drills around the island for the past five years, but activity has intensified since April\u2019s election of outspoken President William Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing has labelled a \u201cdangerous separatist\u201d. On October 14, Beijing launched large-scale military drills \u2013 code-named \u201cJoint Sword-2024B\u201d and involving the army, navy, air force and rocket force \u2013 in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, south and east of Taiwan. Beijing said the drills, which came soon after Lai delivered his National Day speech on October 10, were issued as a \u201cstern warning to the separatist acts of \u2018Taiwan Independence\u2019 forces\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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