TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) denounced China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) for conducting unannounced military drills on Tuesday (Oct. 15), warning that these exercises threaten regional peace and stability. He assured citizens that the government remains vigilant and ready to mitigate any potential impacts on Taiwan’s economy, which he described as resilient.
Cho noted that any sudden military maneuvers disrupt regional peace, impacting not just Taiwan but also international air and maritime rights. He emphasized that the global community is increasingly concerned over China’s military activities in the region. Cho revealed that President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) convened a high-level national security meeting on Monday to address the situation. The government, he said, is taking a proactive approach to handling these developments.
"If we hadn’t held such a meeting, the criticism would have been different,” Cho said, underscoring the administration’s commitment to tackling urgent issues. The PLA’s "Joint Sword-2024B" exercise, which followed President Lai’s National Day speech on Oct. 10, lasted 13 hours and included a record number of aircraft sorties near Taiwan. Cho pledged ongoing readiness to address future escalations, reinforcing the government’s dedication to safeguarding Taiwan’s stability.