TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) criticized China's military exercises around Taiwan on Monday (Oct. 14), stating they only increase resentment among Taiwanese citizens. Earlier in the day, China's People's Liberation Army (PLA, 中國人民解放軍) launched the "Joint Sword-2024B" (聯合利劍-2024B) joint exercises.
Chiang stressed the importance of communication and dialogue over confrontation as cross-strait relations tense. Media inquiries about the potential impact of the military drills on this year's "Taipei-Shanghai Dual-City Forum" (雙城論壇) prompted Chiang to express his hope for easing cross-strait tensions to allow the forum to continue.
When asked about the failed recall of Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang (謝國樑), Chiang remarked that Keelung residents demonstrated their support and approval of Hsieh through their actions. He noted that this kind of political maneuver cannot gain public support.