As the PLA aircraft and vessels frequently patrol around Taiwan, on Thursday (the 7th), Taiwan’s Minister of Defense, Chiu Kuo-cheng, stated that previously, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) “first strike” was understood to involve gunfire or artillery. However, the Taiwanese military has now changed the definition of the first strike: as long as PLA aircraft physically cross the boundary, the Taiwanese military will consider it a first strike and respond accordingly.
Chiu Kuo-cheng reported on the business overview to the Legislative Yuan on Thursday and was prepared for questioning. DPP legislator Shen Po-yang queried about the continuous provocations from mainland China toward Taiwan and expressed concerns that maintaining a defensive stance might encourage Beijing to escalate further. He asked if the Taiwanese military had a highest guiding principle or guideline.
Chiu responded that engaging in battle and avoiding war are two different things. He mentioned that previously, the first strike was considered when the opponent initiated firing shots or artillery. However, the military has now changed the definition of the first strike, which is when PLA aircraft physically cross the boundary, prompting a response from the Taiwanese military. Chiu further emphasized that “avoiding war” is about preventing war, but when avoidance is not possible, one must engage.
Subsequently, KMT legislator Lo Chih-chiang inquired again about the exact situation regarding the first strike. In response, Chiu pointed out that during Tang Yao-ming’s tenure as defense minister, it was the responsibility of the defense minister to define the first strike. At that time, the first strike typically involved gunfire or missiles. However, given the changing environment and the various ways the CCP harasses Taiwan in the gray zone, it is not necessarily about gunfire or artillery. Therefore, he redefined the CCP’s initiation of the first strike as “the physical crossing of the aircraft boundary.”
Chiu stated that since the CCP initiates the first strike, the Taiwanese military has the authority to respond. Therefore, the Taiwanese military does not have a first strike issue but rather a response issue.