By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
The Pentagon has condemned China’s provocative military drills around Taiwan, calling it “irresponsible, disproportionate and destabilizing,” but trumpeted its ability to respond to any eventuality.
“Deterrence remains strong in the Indo-Pacific and the Department (of Defense) remains confident in its current force posture and operations in the region,” Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement.
While appealing for world support, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanded that China “pull back and immediately cease its military provocations.”
At the same time, the foreign affairs office called on nations around the world to "take concrete actions to support democratic Taiwan at this critical moment, unite in defending the values of freedom and democracy, and safeguard the rules-based international order, as well as the freedom, openness and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region.”
The Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army conducted Joint Sword 2024B military drills in the waters around Taiwan on Oct. 13.
According to China Global Television Network, the theater command organized its army, navy, air force and rocket force for military exercises, which involved vessels and planes closing in on the island from multiple directions.
In a statement on Monday, U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken raised concerns over PLA’s military presence in Taiwan's waters and called on China to “act with restraint and to avoid any further actions that may undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the region.”
China’s latest military maneuver came following Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s National Day speech, vowing to “resist annexation or encroachment upon our sovereignty.”
Quoting Fu Zhengnan, a military expert from the PLA Academy of Military Science, the CGTN said the drills were Beijing’s response to Lai’s Oct. 10 speech and a warning against "Taiwan independence actions.”
Taiwan’s foreign affairs office slammed China for using “false pretexts aimed at justifying disagreement and strife.”
At the Pentagon, Ryder reiterated Blinken's earlier comment that it is a long-standing tradition for Taiwan's president to deliver remarks on 10/10.
“It is a routine, domestic-focused address that has historically prompted little response from the (People's Republic of China),” he said. “Still, the PRC has chosen this opportunity to take provocative, military action.”
Ryder said Washington will continue working with allies and partners "to advance our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific despite the PRC's destabilizing behavior."
"The entire world has a stake in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and we continue to see a growing community of countries committed to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," Ryder said.
The Pentagon press secretary said the United States remains committed to its longstanding one-China policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three Joint Communiqués and the Six Assurances.
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