Taiwan's Defense Minister, Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正), appeared before the Foreign and National Defense Committee in the legislature on Thursday. He said the recent increase in gray zone activities by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has severely impacted security in the Taiwan Strait.
Chiu said the CCP has been intensifying its threats, enhancing military intimidation, and tightening its control over the maritime and airspace surrounding the country. He added that Taiwan is committed to strengthening ties with nations that share similar values to safeguard regional peace and stability.
In a pre-meeting interview, Chiu also addressed the recent conflict in Israel and the importance of preparedness. He said that intelligence plays a vital role in proactive response strategies and conflict prevention. Chiu also responded to media questions regarding Israel's rapid mobilization of reserve troops and Taiwan’s capacity for a similar mobilization. He said that the Taiwanese military has mobilization plans that can be enacted when it receives a mobilization order.