UK Defense Secretary Warns "China's Taiwan Airspace Incursion Causes Regional Instability and Conflict"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Ben Wallace, the UK Secretary of Defense, warned that China's recent incursions into Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) could lead to conflict. This is interpreted as a declaration of intent to actively engage in cross-strait issues and Hong Kong matters alongside the US-led Quad military alliance aimed at countering China.

On the 21st (local time), after the NATO Defense Ministers meeting in Brussels, Belgium, Secretary Wallace held a press conference where he stated, "As we have witnessed, China is acting militarily, and we believe it is unwise. China is destabilizing the region and risks triggering further conflicts in other disputed areas."

Earlier, the Chinese People's Liberation Army conducted an unprecedented show of force targeting Taiwan by sending dozens of military aircraft into Taiwan's ADIZ during the National Day holiday starting on the 1st. Since then, the US and Western countries have continuously sent warning messages to China. The incursions of Chinese bombers into Taiwan's territorial waters and Taiwan's jet fighter responses have raised concerns both domestically and internationally about the risk of accidents and miscalculations escalating into a crisis.

Secretary Wallace also mentioned the Hong Kong issue alongside the Taiwan matter, expressing the UK's intention to remain actively involved. He pointed out, "The differences between mainland China and Taiwan should be resolved peacefully," and noted, "Hong Kong, which was a British colony and returned to China in 1997, appears to face issues similar to those of Taiwan."

Wallace strongly criticized China, saying, "Since Taiwan is effectively included under the 'one country, two systems' framework, we are concerned about Hong Kong in the same way. If that principle is abandoned and the commitments and regulations with the international community are broken, what would that mean for Taiwan?"

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.