### Taiwanese Defence Minister Warns of War if China Imposes Blockade

Taiwan's Defence Minister, Wellington Koo, has declared that any blockade imposed by China would constitute an act of war with significant repercussions for global trade. This statement follows recent military drills by China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) designed to encircle the self-governed island.

Speaking on Wednesday, Koo outlined the difference between military exercises and an actual blockade. He emphasized that, under United Nations resolutions, a blockade prohibits all aircraft and ships from entering a designated area, qualifying it as an act of war. Koo stressed that while drills are common, their implications are far less severe than a full blockade, which would impact the international community profoundly.

China continues to assert sovereignty over Taiwan and has repeatedly threatened to use force to bring the island under its control. The PLA regularly conducts drills simulating blockades and assaults on Taiwan. Despite China’s claims, Taiwan, known officially as the Republic of China, has consistently maintained its independence and does not recognize Beijing's sovereignty claims.

Beijing also claims jurisdiction over the Taiwan Strait, the 180-kilometer waterway separating the island from mainland China. Numerous countries, including the United States and Japan, along with several European nations, reject this claim and recognize the strait as international waters. The U.S. Navy frequently conducts navigational exercises in the region to assert these international rights.

Highlighting the economic stakes, Koo pointed out that about 20% of global freight moves through the Taiwan Strait, implying that a blockade would disrupt international trade. He stated unequivocally that the global community could not stand by idly if China were to take such drastic measures.

Earlier on Wednesday, Taiwan's defence ministry reported that a fleet of Chinese aircraft carriers, led by the Liaoning, had moved north through the Taiwan Strait after navigating waters near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands. The Taiwanese military also detected 15 Chinese military aircraft and six navy vessels in the vicinity within the previous 24 hours.

For nearly five years, China has maintained a persistent military presence around Taiwan, with activity intensifying since the election of Taiwan's President William Lai Ching-te. Lai, an outspoken critic of Beijing, has been labelled a "dangerous separatist" by Chinese authorities. This escalation hit a peak on October 14, when Beijing launched its "Joint Sword-2024B" military exercise involving the army, navy, air force, and rocket force in and around the Taiwan Strait.

These drills followed Lai's National Day speech on October 10, which Beijing condemned as a flare of separatist sentiments. The Chinese government characterized the exercises as a stringent warning against Taiwan's independence efforts.