Taiwan’s Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-chen warned on Monday that the island should be on alert this year for a “sudden entry” by the Chinese military into areas close to its territory, amid rising military tensions in the Taiwan Strait, Reuters and Agerpres reported.

China has stepped up its military activities around Taiwan in recent years, including near-daily air force incursions into the island’s air defense identification zone. However, Taiwan has yet to report any incident of Chinese troops entering its contiguous zone, which is 24 nautical miles (44.4 km) from its coast.

But last year, Taiwan’s armed forces first shot down a civilian drone that entered its airspace near an islet off the Chinese coast.

In response to questions from lawmakers in parliament, Chiu said China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could find an excuse to move closer to Taiwan’s territorial and maritime space as the island ramps up military exchanges with the United States, angering Beijing.

He said the PLA could “suddenly” enter Taiwan’s contiguous territory and approach its territorial space, defined by the island as 12 nautical miles from the coast.

“I’m specifically making these comments this year, which is that they are preparing,” Chiu said, adding that “they would use force if they really had to.”

Taiwan has vowed to exercise its right to self-defense and counterattack if China’s armed forces enter its territory.

Escalation of tensions between China and Taiwan

Last year, China staged unprecedented military exercises around Taiwan in response to a visit to the island by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

China seeks to “create trouble under any pretext,” Chiu said, adding that this could include visits to the island by high-ranking foreign government officials or Taiwan’s frequent military contacts with other countries.

He claimed that the PLA sends about 10 planes or ships to areas near Taiwan every day. Some of them cross the median line of the Taiwan Strait almost daily, which usually serves as an unofficial buffer.

According to Chiu, after China canceled a tacit agreement on military movements in the strait, Taiwan has prepared to “shoot first” if Chinese entities, including drones or balloons, enter its territorial space. C

China considers self-governing Taiwan its own and does not hesitate to use force to bring the island under Beijing’s control if necessary.

Taiwan strongly rejects China’s claims to sovereignty and declares that only its people can decide their future, reminds Reuters.