Taiwan president, pressed by Beijing, pledges more security
TAIPEI, TAIWAN — Taiwan’s president said Sunday her government will step up security measures to respond to military threats from China.
President Tsai Ing-wen gave no details in comments posted online but her government has encouraged development of a domestic arms industry in response to pressure from Beijing, which claims the island as its own territory and has sent fighter planes near its coast.
“We will strengthen our work for the whole society’s security,” Tsai wrote in response to questions from the public. She said her government will “especially look out for these factors from China.”
Taiwan and the communist mainland, separated since a civil war in 1949, have extensive trade and investment ties but no official relations.
Tsai, elected in 2016, rejects Beijing’s contention they are “one China” and must unite.
The mainland government of President Xi Jinping has responded with shows of force and diplomatic efforts to persuade the few countries that recognize Taiwan as an independent country to switch ties to Beijing.
The Communist Party’s military wing, the People’s Liberation Army, has sent fighter planes near Taiwan’s coast a dozen times since Tsai’s election and an aircraft carrier sailing through the 110-mile-wide strait that separates them.
Beijing has threatened to attack if Taiwan declares formal independence or delays talks on unification. Government surveys in Taiwan show most of the island’s 23 million people prefer to maintain their autonomy.