Taiwan president says Chinese drills a threat but not intimidated

TAIPEI - Taiwan has not been intimidated by China's military drills this week, President Tsai Ing-wen said on Tuesday, after the latest Chinese maneuvers were denounced by a senior US official as "coercion" and a threat to regional stability.

China's People's Liberation Army said its warships, bombers and reconnaissance aircraft had conducted "necessary drills" around Taiwan on Monday. It described them as routine.

Tsai said Taiwan was resolute in its defence.

"China's armed forces yesterday sent a large number of military aircraft and naval vessels into our vicinity. Their actions threaten Taiwan and other-like minded countries in the region," Tsai said.

"These actions only serve to strengthen our resolve. Our military forces have the capacity, determination, and commitment to defend Taiwan and not allow coercion to dictate our own future," she said.

Tsai also said the Trump administration had notified Taipei that its pilots could train at the Luke Air Force Base in Arizona.

"It enhances their abilities to defend our air space. I want to express my appreciation to the US government for the announcement," she said.

Tsai was speaking at a forum co-hosted by Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to mark the 40th anniversary of Taiwan-US ties under the Taiwan Relations Act, following Washington's decision to ditch formal recognition of Taiwan in favour of China in 1979.

The event was attended by a delegation led by Paul Ryan, the former speaker of the US House of Representatives.

The United States has no formal ties with Taiwan but is bound by law to help provide the island with the means to defend itself and is its main source of arms.

Taiwan scrambled jets and ships to monitor the Chinese forces on Monday, the island's sefence ministry said, accusing Beijing of "trying to change the status quo of the Taiwan Strait".