Taipei, Taiwan, Oct 23 (Alliance News): Taiwan’s Defense Minister, Wellington Koo, warned that a full-scale Chinese blockade of Taiwan would be considered an act of war under international law and would have significant global repercussions, especially on international trade.
His remarks followed Chinese military drills last week that simulated such a blockade.
China has intensified its military activities around Taiwan in recent years, consistently conducting exercises, including simulated blockades and attacks on key ports.
Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory, rejects China’s sovereignty assertions.
During China’s latest war games, dubbed “Joint Sword-2024B,” military operations practiced blockading crucial maritime zones and targeting ports and other sites. However, Taiwan’s defense minister noted that these exercises did not establish no-fly or no-sail zones, essential elements of a genuine blockade.
“If China were to carry out a blockade, which would prohibit all ships and aircraft from entering the designated area, it would be considered an act of war according to United Nations resolutions,” Koo explained.
He further stressed that the impact would extend far beyond Taiwan, as one-fifth of global freight passes through the Taiwan Strait.
“The international community would not just stand by and watch,” Koo added, highlighting the potential disruption to global trade.
Chinese military activity near Taiwan has been ongoing, even after last week’s drills. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported on Wednesday that a Chinese aircraft carrier group, led by the Liaoning—China’s oldest carrier—sailed through the Taiwan Strait.
The Liaoning had participated in last week’s military exercises and launched aircraft near Taiwan’s southeast coast.
While Beijing claims control over the 110-mile-wide Taiwan Strait, Taiwan and the United States view it as an international waterway.
The U.S. Navy, along with other allied nations, including Canada, Germany, and Britain, regularly sail through the strait to assert freedom of navigation.
Taiwan’s coast guard is particularly concerned about potential Chinese efforts to board civilian vessels in the strait.
In response, Taiwan’s coast guard has vowed to act decisively, following the principle of “neither provoking nor backing down.”
