TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Minister of National Defense, Chiu Kuo-cheng, stated Friday (March 1) that the Chinese Communist Party's rocket launch the previous night fell within expected parameters.
He assured the public that an alert would be issued if the trajectory deviated or was potentially harmful.
The Chinese launch from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan saw the rocket's flight path traverse central Taiwan towards the Western Pacific.
No alert was issued in Taiwan because of the rocket's trajectory and its altitude outside of the atmosphere, according to the MND's risk assessment. It was not harmful to Taiwan, Chiu confirmed.
The spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, Zhang Xiaogang, insisted on a day earlier that "there is only one China, Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory," and denied the existence of the "median line" in the Taiwan Strait.
In response, Chiu asserted that the median line was a tacit agreement between the strait for years and it provided regional stability. Negating its existence could stir regional tensions and escalate pressures, he added.
When questioned by the media about the possibility of escalated conflict between China and Taiwan before May 20, Chiu responded that it would not be appropriate to jump to conclusions. Instead, he said, it ould be necessary to observe for any actions or signs.