A Taiwan government's senior member called on Australia for help as the small, independent territory fears an imminent invasion by China.
Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said countries such as Australia should develop closer ties with Taiwan as it faced a growing threat from its giant neighbour, which has always considered Taiwan part of its territory and not an independent nation.
Taiwan had complained of China sending huge numbers of military aircraft into its airspace over the past year, ramping up to nearly 100 incursions over a recent three-day period.
China sent 38 warplanes into the skies around Taiwan on Friday, the highest number of Chinese military aircraft to breach the island's ADIZ in a single day since Taipei began publicly reporting such activities last year, Tawain's Defense Ministry said. https://t.co/cwY49A5pBS
— CNN (@CNN) October 2, 2021
Its Defence Ministry said that 39 PLA aircraft entered the zone last Saturday alone, a development that saw Taiwan scramble its own jets in readiness for combat.
'If China is going to launch a war against Taiwan we will fight to the end, and that is our commitment,' Mr Wu told the ABC's China Tonight program.
'I'm sure that if China is going to launch an attack against Taiwan, they are going to suffer tremendously as well.'
Mr Wu said the backing of 'like-minded' countries such as the United States and Australia, which does not formally recognise Taiwan as a sovereign nation, were needed to constrain China's territorial ambitions in the region.
'We would like to engage in security or intelligence exchanges with other like-minded partners, Australia included, so Taiwan is better prepared to deal with the war situation,' he said.
'And so far, our relations with Australia [are] very good and that is what we appreciate.'
In an October 2 Tweet about the number of Chinese planes entering the Taiwanese zone, Mr Wu said: 'Threatening? Of course. It's strange the #PRC doesn't bother faking excuses anymore.'
Taiwan recently welcomed the announcement of AUKUS, the nuclear submarines deal between the US, UK and Australia.
'We are pleased to see that the like-minded partners of Taiwan — the United States and the UK and Australia — are working closer with each other to acquire more advanced defence articles so that we can defend Indo-Pacific,' Mr Wu said.
He welcomed the fact Australia would 'shoulder more responsibility to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific'.
Australia has traditionally taken a diplomatic approach to China-Taiwan relations, not overtly backing one said over another but instead urging 'dialogue' between the pair to resolve areas of disagreement.
But after recent US-Australia ministerial meetings, both sides stated their intent 'to strengthen ties with Taiwan, which is a leading democracy and a critical partner for both countries'.
The US State Department issued a statement regarding China's increased incursions into Taiwan airspace.
'The United States is very concerned by the People's Republic of China's provocative military activity near Taiwan, which is destabilising, risks miscalculations, and undermines regional peace and stability,' read the statement.
'The US has an abiding interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and will continue to assist Taiwan in maintaining a "sufficient self-defence capability.
'The US commitment to Taiwan is rock solid and contributes to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and within the region.'
At least 16 Chinese aircraft spotted in Taiwan's air defense zone after China repeatedly sent record number of warplanes to Taiwanhttps://t.co/SkKq5SZjLH
— DAILY SABAH (@DailySabah) October 3, 2021
Taiwan's Foreign Ministry thanked the United States for its concern, and said China was increasing tension in the Indo-Pacific region.
'In the face of China's challenges, our country's government has always committed itself to improving our self-defence capabilities and resolutely safeguarding Taiwan's democracy, freedom, peace and prosperity,' it said.
China has not offered a justification for the increased air activity but has previously said the sorties were undertaken to assert its sovereignty over the territory and ensure against 'collusion' between Taiwan and the United States.
China has never ceded sovereignty to Taiwan since the forces of Chiang Kai-shek and approximately two million Republic of China soldiers retreated to the island in 1949 after Communist leader Mao Zedong proclaimed the People's Republic of China in Beijing the same year.
Since that time, Taiwan has remained in a 'twilight zone' in which countries such as Australia do not recognise it as a sovereign nation, so they can maintain diplomatic relations with China, but deal with Taiwan 'unofficially'.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
