‘We will fight the war if we need to’

TAIPEI - China sent more fighter jets into Taiwan’s air defence zone on Wednesday in a stepped-up show of force around the island Beijing claims as its own, and Taiwan’s foreign minister said it would fight to the end if China attacks.

The democratic self-governed island has complained of repeated military activities by Beijing in recent months, with China’s air force making almost daily forays in Taiwan’s air defence identification zone. On Monday, China said an aircraft carrier group was exercising close to the island.

Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said 15 Chinese aircraft, including 12 fighters, entered its air defence identification zone, with an antisubmarine aircraft flying to the south through the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines.

Taiwan’s air force sent up aircraft to intercept and warn the Chinese away, the ministry added.

Adding to the stepped-up military activity, the US Navy said its John S. McCain guided missile destroyer conducted a “routine” transit of the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday.

China’s Eastern Theatre Command said it tracked the ship and denounced the United States for “endangering the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait”.

Speaking earlier in the day, Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said the United States was concerned about the risk of conflict.

“From my limited understanding of American decision makers watching developments in this region, they clearly see the danger of the possibility of China launching an attack against Taiwan,” he told reporters at his ministry.

“We are willing to defend ourselves without any questions and we will fight the war if we need to fight the war. And if we need to defend ourselves to the very last day we will defend ourselves to the very last day.”

In Washington, US State Department spokesman Ned Price was asked about the Chinese activity and Mr Wu’s comments and said the United States noted with “great concern” a pattern of ongoing Chinese intimidation efforts in the region, including towards Taiwan.

Mr Price reiterated past statements that the US commitment to Taiwan is “rock solid” and added:

“As reflected in the Taiwan Relations Act, the United States maintains the capacity to resist any resort to force, or other forms of coercion, that would jeopardise the security or the social or economic system of the people on Taiwan.”

The commander of the US Pacific Fleet, Admiral John Aquilino, said at his nomination hearing last month for overall command of the US Indo-Pacific region that estimates of when China might have the capability to invade Taiwan ranged between now and 2045 and added: “My opinion is this problem is much closer to us than most think.”

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to requests for comment on Mr Wu’s remarks.

China has said its activities around Taiwan are aimed at protecting China’s sovereignty.