nesday.
The comments by National Security Council Secretary-General Wellington Koo to parliament are the first indication that Taiwan is preparing for potential military drills by China after Lai takes office on May 20.
Taiwan is closely monitoring the Chinese military along with the U.S.-led alliance of Western allies in the region, Koo said.
“We are vigilant for the period after May 20, because military exercises may carry the threat of intended coercion,” Koo said, when asked if China could mount exercises in the region to pressure the new government.
China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has not ruled out the use of force to assert its control over the island. Taiwan sees itself as a sovereign state with its own government, military, and constitution.
Relations between Taipei and Beijing have been tense since President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, with China stepping up military activities near the island, including regular air force missions into the Taiwan Strait. Tsai won re-election by a landslide on Jan. 11.
In his parliamentary address on Taiwan’s diplomatic situation, Koo accused China of holding its vessels around Taiwan for days on end and infiltrating Taiwan’s media to spread false or misleading information.
Koo did not elaborate on the circumstances or timeframe of these allegations.
The secretary-general further raised the issue of Taiwan not being invited to the World Health Organization this year and said the exclusion harmed the health and safety of the international community, particularly Taiwan.
Taiwan has reported 429 cases of the coronavirus and six deaths since the pandemic began, significantly fewer than many its neighbors in the region.
Taiwan has been pushing hard for inclusion in the WHO, saying it could have helped then contain the virus sooner and more effectively.
The official added that Taiwan should seize the opportunity to act with U.S. allies in the region and shore up its own defenses while enhancing its international healthcare contributions.
“We are actively pushing to seek mainland cooperation, protect our national security and choose public opinion over defection,” he told parliament.
Taiwan has reported being under constant pressure from China, including threats of military attacks and economic intimidation. Koo urged the public to show unity and confront the diplomatic challenges from Beijing.
The island’s parliament debated doubling Taiwan’s defense spending in the next eight years as the government strives to modernize its armed forces amidst the threats posed by China’s military buildup.
In his inaugural address as president, Lai Ching-te emphasized the importance of strengthening Taiwan’s defense capabilities and pledged to protect the island’s sovereignty.
