Taiwan saw a rise in nearby PLA activity last weekend, including the incursion of a Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane in its air defense identification zone. KMT vice presidential candidate Jaw Shaw-kong made an appeal to Beijing, asking it to cease its military harassment in the week before Election Day. The move was panned by the DPP, who accused Jaw of making the remarks as an election tactic.

Jaw Shaw-kong (Jan. 7)
KMT vice presidential candidate
I hereby request the Taiwan Affairs Office to convey this to relevant units of the PLA. There’s one week left till Taiwan’s elections, so cease military activities that approach the median line of the Taiwan Strait. I ask China to please preserve the peace of the Taiwan Strait and to allow us to have a smooth and peaceful election.

Hsiao Bi-khim
DPP vice presidential candidate
I’m not clear on why he’s making this appeal this week in particular. Of course, a very important election will occur in Taiwan this week, but what we and all Taiwanese people want is cross-strait peace and stability. The PLA is not welcome to engage in threats and intimidation and disrupt the lives of the Taiwanese people. That statement holds true at all times, not just this week. We want peace and stability to be maintained across the strait over the long-term.

Jaw Shaw-kong
KMT vice presidential candidate
At least I had the courage to make this appeal, to make this demand. Could we say the same of you?

Lai Ching-te
DPP presidential candidate
Why is it that when China harassed us before, Jaw Shaw-kong criticized not China but Taiwan’s government, accusing Taiwan’s government of provoking China? Why has he only brought up this appeal this week? In addition, Jaw’s request is limited to the period before the election. Why has he not asked for an end to further harassment? This is clearly all an election gambit.

The PLA sent nine military aircraft and four naval vessels near Taiwan between last Sunday and Monday, according to Taiwan’s defense ministry. Three Chinese balloons were also spotted across the median line of the Taiwan Strait.

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