Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng addressed legislators’ concerns over increasing Chinese aggression during a report on Wednesday. Chiu’s report said that over 940 Chinese war planes have made incursions into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone this year. The report also said that one such maneuver on November 28 included an aerial refueling craft for the first time. Chiu said that China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier has also ramped up its activity around Taiwan.
Chiu said that Taiwan should increase its surveillance capabilities, expand weapons procurement, counter cognitive warfare campaigns, and foster relations with partner counties to respond to these threats. He said that China continues to use military force in an effort to coerce Taiwan, and that such actions have become commonplace.
Chiu said that the military remains on alert, and is ready to respond to threats of force at any time.