China’s Defense Ministry denied the existence of the median line of the Taiwan Strait on Thursday and defended ongoing military exercises, further raising concern about the peace and stability of the region.
Chinese Defense Ministry Spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang (張曉剛) was responding to U.S. media reports regarding the frequent incursions of military aircraft across the "Taiwan Strait’s median line." Zhang said since there is only one China, then there is no “midline”. He further emphasized that military training in the Taiwan Strait will be intensified to not only safeguard national sovereignty but also deter provocations by “Taiwan independence forces.”
Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正) addressed Zhang’s statement in an interview. Chiu acknowledges while there has been no signing of an agreement regarding the median line, there has been an unspoken understanding for many years. Chiu adds that if this is not acknowledged then there will be no buffer zone in the future, which may only add greater pressure to the region.
Nonetheless, Taiwan’s defense minister reassured the public that the military remains vigilant and is closely monitoring the situation.