Taiwan says the blockade could be a war as China holds more tests | South China Sea News

Taiwan’s defense chief says the ban will have far-reaching effects on international trade.

Taiwan’s defense chief has warned that China’s blockade would be an act of war and have far-reaching consequences for international trade after Beijing held military exercises to encircle the self-ruled island.

Taiwan’s Defense Minister Wellington Koo made the comments on Wednesday as the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) continued exercises near the democratically-ruled island after last week conducting war games that included a simulated blockade.

“If you really want to do what is called interdiction, which according to international law is to prevent all planes and ships entering the area, according to the resolutions of the United Nations it is considered a form of war,” Koo said in a statement. to reporters in parliament.

“I want to emphasize that exercise and exercise are completely different from sanctions, as it can affect the international community,” Koo added.

China claims Taiwan as its territory and has said it has the right to use force to bring it under its control, while the PLA regularly holds drills – including simulated port blockades and attacks on sea and land targets – across the island.

Taiwan, also known as the Republic of China, has never been ruled by the People’s Republic of China and rejects Beijing’s claims to sovereignty.

Beijing also has control over the entire Taiwan Strait, a 180km (110-mile) wide waterway that separates mainland China from Taiwan.

Taiwan and other members of the international community reject the claim of Beijing, the United States, Japan and several European countries asserting its status as an international waterway.

The US Navy, in particular, regularly navigates the strait to maintain freedom of navigation rights.

Koo, who noted that one-fifth of the world’s goods go through the road, said the international community “cannot stand by” if China were to block it.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense announced earlier on Wednesday that Chinese aircraft carriers, led by the carrier Liaoning, were heading north through the waterway after passing through waters near the Pratas Islands controlled by Taiwan.

In the past 24 hours, Taiwan’s military has detected 15 Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels in the skies and waters surrounding the island, the Ministry of Defense said.

“The Liaoning is passing through the Taiwan Strait now, sailing north west of the center line and we are keeping a close eye on it,” Koo said.

Taiwan has reported almost daily Chinese military exercises around the island for the past five years, but activity has intensified since the April election of President William Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing calls a “dangerous separatist”.

On October 14, Beijing launched large-scale military exercises – codenamed “Combined Sword-2024B” and involving the army, air force, air force and rocket force – in the Taiwan Strait and in areas north, south and east of Taiwan.

Beijing said the drills, which took place shortly after Lai delivered his National Day speech on October 10, were issued as a “strong warning against the separatist actions of the ‘Taiwan Independence’ forces”.