TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Kuomintang (KMT) vice-presidential candidate Jaw Shaw-kong called on China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) and the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Sunday (Jan. 7) to demonstrate goodwill as Taiwan's elections are just a week away. He urged them not to send military aircraft across the median line of the Taiwan Strait, advocating for peace in the region.
Earlier in the day, Jaw canvassed in the city with KMT legislative candidate Lee Yen-hsiu and spoke about his intentions to address the TAO.
The previous day, Jaw had seen a Newsweek report noting that 1,709 Chinese military aircraft had entered Taiwan's air defense identification zone in 2023. While the number decreased to 80 in December, it still represented a 76% increase from the 2022 figures. Despite the decrease, military aircraft continued to intrude in 2024.
Jaw specifically named the TAO in his plea, asking them to relay a message to the PLA. With the elections a week away, Jaw implored them to avoid the vicinity of the Taiwan Strait's median line and to maintain peace.
"This daily incursion puts pressure on the Taiwanese people. If the numbers could decrease in December, why not in January?" Jaw rhetorically asked.
China's persistent disruptions with military aircraft, ships, and floating balloons have escalated as the final presidential election of 2024 in Taiwan draws closer. These actions continue to tense the nerves of the electorate and candidates, reflecting the interplay of cross-strait relations and election dynamics.