Despite increased Chinese military incursions into the Taiwan Strait, senior Taiwanese government officials insist that war with China is not inevitable. Chung-kwang Tien, Vice Foreign Minister of Taiwan, highlighted that although China is much larger and more powerful, Taiwan is supported by a strong international community.
During a press conference, Chung-kwang Tien told journalists: “We are small, but we are not alone,” quoted by the Defense One media. And in line with this, he underlined the crucial support the country has been receiving from the United States. United States, which recently agreed to sell drones to Taipei worth $360 million.
Bracing for a possible conflict, Taiwan holds annual military exercises in July, which this year will be more realistic than ever, according to a senior official. Catherine Hsu, director-general of the foreign ministry’s international information services department, stressed the importance of Taiwan demonstrating its determination to defend itself in order to gain international support.
Despite the tensions, Hsu and Tien stressed that Taiwan is not seeking to formally declare independence, as its people consider themselves independent. An official declaration would provoke the Chinese Communist Party. Instead, Taiwan wishes to maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, avoiding provocations and seeking stability and peace in the region.
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Source: Defense One
