Taiwan’s Defense Minister Chiu Guo-cheng warned on Monday that the island should be put on alert this year due to a “sudden incursion” by the Chinese military into areas adjacent to its territory amid rising military tensions in the sensitive Taiwan Strait.

In recent years, China has stepped up its military activities around Taiwan, including almost daily air force incursions into the island’s air defense reconnaissance zone.

However, Taiwan has yet to report any instances of Chinese troops invading its territorial waters, which are 24 nautical miles (44.4 km) from its coastline.

Responding to questions from a member of parliament, Chiu said that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army may find an excuse to infiltrate areas close to Taiwan’s territorial air and sea space as the island intensifies military exchanges with the United States, angering Beijing.

He said the Chinese military could make a “surprise incursion” into Taiwan’s zone and approach its territorial zone, which the island defines as 12 nautical miles from its coast.

“I specifically make these comments this year, which means that appropriate preparations are underway,” he said. “Looking ahead, they would use force if they really had to.”

Taiwan pledged to exercise its right to self-defense and counterattack if Chinese military forces entered its territory.

China claims self-governing Taiwan as its own and does not exclude the use of force to take the island under Chinese control if necessary. Taiwan strongly rejects China’s claim to sovereignty and says that only its own citizens can decide their own future.

Source: Reuters.