Taiwan Says Forces Will Fight To 'Defend Our Homeland' Amid China Incursions

Taiwan's armed forces are committed to "fighting with all our heart to defend our homeland" should conflict break out, Taipei has said, as China carries out large-scale military drills close to the island.

Taiwan detected 71 Chinese aircraft and nine naval vessels around the island by 6 a.m. local time on Sunday, Taipei's defense ministry said via Twitter. The island's armed forces "monitored the situation," with 45 of the aircraft crossing the median line, it added. This maritime line is considered the unofficial border in the Taiwan Strait.

In a later update, the defense ministry said 70 aircraft and 11 vessels belonging to the Chinese military were detected on Sunday by 4 p.m. local time. Out of these aircraft, half had crossed the median line and entered the southwestern Taiwanese air defense identification zone, the ministry added.

The Taiwanese military "tasked our assets to respond these provocative activities," the ministry said on Twitter.

Beijing embarked on a second day of military drills on Sunday as tensions in the South China Sea escalate. The military exercises, referred to as "Operation Joint Sword," are expected to last until Monday.

Beijing considers Taiwan to be a breakaway part of mainland China, to be eventually reunited under central control. "Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, said on Friday.

But Taipei, which has established a democratic government, has long asserted its independence from Beijing and attempted to align itself with Western allies.

Chinese armed forces carried out "simulated joint precision strikes on key targets on Taiwan island" and nearby areas, Chinese state media said, according to Reuters. Beijing's military is maintaining an "offensive posture around the island," the outlet added, citing state television.

The first day of drills concentrated on how Chinese forces would take "control of sea, air and information," whereas the second day focused on launching strikes on Taiwanese land targets, Chinese state media reported.

China's drills came as Taiwan's president, Tsai Ing-wen, returned back from a visit to Central America and the U.S. During her visit, she met with U.S. House Speaker, Kevin McCarthy, in a move which angered Beijing.

China's foreign ministry condemned McCarthy's and Tsai's meeting as "a serious violation of the one-China principle." Officially, Washington recognizes and maintains formal relations with the government in Beijing, but has a "robust unofficial" relationship with Taipei.

The military exercises were designed to "resolutely counter the collusive and provocative acts of the external forces and the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces," China's Eastern Theatre Command said in a statement.

But Taiwan "will continue to work with the U.S. and other like-minded countries to jointly defend the values of freedom and democracy," Tsai said on Saturday.

"The friendship between the people of Taiwan and America is a matter of profound importance to the free world, McCarthy said in joint remarks with Taiwan's leader. "It is critical to maintain economic freedom, peace and regional stability," he added.

Beijing also announced a series of "live fire" drills when former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi went ahead with a visit to Taipei last summer. After touching down in Taiwan, Pelosi – the most high-profile U.S. diplomat to visit the island in decades – reaffirmed the U.S.' "unwavering commitment" to Taipei's democratic system.

The drills were a "grave warning" against Taiwan's government and a demonstration of "stern deterrence against the major escalation of the US' negative moves on the Taiwan question," an Eastern Theater Command spokesperson said back in early August 2022.

Update 06:45 a.m. and 8:34 a.m. ET 04/09/2023: This story was updated with additional information.