TAIPEI (Kyodo) — Taiwan’s Defense Minister Wellington Koo warned Wednesday that a blockade of the self-ruled island by China would be regarded as an “act of war,” with severe repercussions for global maritime trade, following Chinese military drills last week that simulated such a scenario.
“If you really carry out a so-called blockade, which according to international law is to prohibit all aircraft and ships entering the area, then according to United Nations resolutions, it is regarded as a form of war,” Koo told reporters.
On Oct. 14, the Chinese military conducted a large-scale exercise surrounding Taiwan, during which its forces simulated blockades on key ports and areas.
The wargame followed Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te’s speech on Oct. 10 to mark the island’s National Day, in which he said China “has no right to represent Taiwan” and that the two sides are not subordinate to each other.
Noting that an estimated one-fifth of global maritime trade transits through the Taiwan Strait, Koo said the impact from a blockade of the area would be “very serious, and the world would not be able to sit idly by.”
Also on Wednesday, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said a mainland Chinese fleet led by the Liaoning aircraft carrier was spotted transiting through the Taiwan Strait Tuesday night, and the island’s military monitored it.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a press conference in Beijing it is “normal” for China’s aircraft carriers to operate within territorial waters.
“No matter what Taiwan authorities say or do, it will not change the fact that Taiwan belongs to China and the prevalent trend that China definitely will realize the national reunification,” Lin said.
Communist-ruled mainland and Taiwan have been governed separately since they split due to a civil war in 1949. Beijing views Taiwan as a renegade province that is to be unified with the mainland, by force if necessary.