Taiwanese Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng has called for a "sudden entry" of Chinese armed forces into areas close to his territory to be on high alert.
Speaking in parliament, Chiu said
China's sharp increase in military spending for 2023 indicates Beijing was "preparing to use force if necessary" to take over the island
.
At the start of the annual session of the National People's Congress on Sunday, Beijing unveiled its 2023 budget, including military spending of 1.56 trillion yuan (nearly $230 billion), up 7.2 percent and at the fastest pace fast of the last 4 years.
"It appears that the other side is preparing to use force if necessary in the future," the minister stressed, adding that future high-level visits by foreign dignitaries could be a possible catalyst for launching an invasion.
"
I think they are waiting for a good reason to send troops, such as high-level visits from other countries to Taiwan or too frequent activity between our military and other countries' military," Chiu
said.
The comment by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, expressed during the daily briefing in Beijing, was dry:
"Taiwan is part of China and therefore Taiwan does not have a defense minister"
.
Both sides of the Taiwan Strait "are Chinese territory and China will take all firm and resolute measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity," the spokeswoman concluded.
Meanwhile,
US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has decided that he will meet Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in California, thus renouncing a visit to the country to "avoid reactions from China"
.
The meeting will probably take place in April, during an already scheduled visit of the Taiwanese leader to the United States.