[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-seop] Taiwan's Minister of National Defense has stated that Chinese military aircraft or drones entering Taiwan's airspace will be considered a preemptive attack.
According to major foreign media on the 5th, Taiwan's Minister of National Defense, Chu Kuo-cheng, answered "yes" to the question at the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan's parliament, asking "If military aircraft enter Taiwan's airspace, will it be considered a preemptive attack?" Minister Chu said, "In the past, (Taiwan) said it would not carry out a preemptive attack," but added, "It means that we will not attack unless they (China) fire artillery or missiles first."
He continued, "However, now China has clearly changed the situation by using means such as drones," and explained, "Accordingly, we have formulated a response policy, and any aircraft or vessel crossing over will be considered a preemptive attack."
China considers Taiwan part of its territory under the "One China" principle. However, it has not yet dispatched warships or military aircraft within the 12-nautical-mile territorial sea and airspace claimed by Taiwan. After U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in August, China conducted military demonstrations by regularly dispatching military aircraft and warships beyond the median line of the Taiwan Strait. Even then, Taiwan stated, "Chinese warships have never approached within our territorial waters."
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