Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) on Wednesday released a series of images and videos showcasing the readiness of its armed forces, as tensions in the Taiwan Strait intensified due to heightened Chinese military activity around the island.
In a post on X, the MND affirmed its commitment to safeguarding Taiwan’s sovereignty, stating that the duty to defend freedom and democracy is paramount.
“From the moment we put on the uniform, it becomes our duty and responsibility to defend freedom and democracy, to protect the land we live on, and to safeguard the family and friends who share this land with us—even at the cost of our lives. #ROCArmedForces,” the ministry wrote.
Accompanying the post was a video depicting Taiwanese soldiers engaged in military drills, alongside visuals of tanks, naval ships, and aircraft in action. The ministry reinforced its resolve, declaring: “There is a kind of duty called steadfast commitment. There is a kind of mission called safeguarding our homeland. There is a kind of dedication called selfless devotion. We aren't great, but we stand to defend the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan). When facing threats, we don’t fear; we safeguard our homeland and democracy 24/7.”
The statement came against the backdrop of a significant surge in Chinese military operations near Taiwan. According to Taiwan’s defence ministry, 76 aircraft, 15 naval vessels, and four official ships were detected on Wednesday. Of these, 37 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, entering Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern, and eastern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ).
Taiwanese forces closely monitored the situation and responded appropriately, the ministry stated.
Meanwhile, the United States reiterated its commitment to maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, during a press briefing on Tuesday, stated: “As a matter of fact, the National Security Council briefed me on this this morning, and they said that the President is emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait, encouraging the peaceful resolution of these cross-strait issues, reiterating our opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. That is directly from the National Security.”
Her remarks followed an announcement by the Chinese military that it had commenced joint exercises involving its army, navy, air force, and rocket force in the vicinity of Taiwan. The drills, according to Beijing, were intended as a “stern warning.”
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