By Ben Blanchard
PENGHU, Taiwan (Reuters) – Taiwan President Lai Ching-te instructed sailors aboard a combat-ready warship at a significant base within the Taiwan Strait on Friday that he had their backs, thanking them for safeguarding Taiwanese safety at a time of heightened tensions with Beijing.
China, which claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its personal territory over the sturdy objections of the federal government in Taipei, detests Lai as a “separatist” and staged struggle video games across the island in Might shortly after his inauguration.
Chatting with sailors on board the warship Cheng Ho on the Magong base on the Penghu islands within the Taiwan Strait, Lai stated the navy units nice retailer on all working collectively as one.
“As commander in chief of the three services, I want to stress that the government will back all of you,” he stated, on a message broadcast all through the ship by loudspeaker.
The Cheng Ho – named after a Ming dynasty Chinese language admiral and explorer – is a Taiwan-built warship based mostly on the design for the U.S. Oliver Hazard Perry class of frigates.
A stay RIM-66 Normal missile stood prepared in its launcher on the ship’s bow as Lai spoke onboard.
Chatting with officers shortly afterwards at a lunch on base, Lai stated the federal government was dedicated to additional bettering the armed forces weapons.
Penghu can be dwelling to an vital air base, from which Taiwanese air pressure jets usually scramble to shadow Chinese language army plane and warships working round Taiwan.
Lai reviewed troopers at an air defence facility close to the air base, watching a drill with a set twin-mount Stinger surface-to-air missile, designed for close-in defence.
China’s army has up to now launched video of the Penghu islands showing to point out it taken by its air pressure, which Taipei described as “cognitive warfare”.
Penghu, a summer season vacationer vacation spot for its seashores and crystal-clear water, is near Taiwan’s southwestern coast, in contrast to the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen and Matsu islands, that are proper subsequent to the Chinese language coast.
Lai has repeatedly provided talks with Beijing, however has been rebuffed. He says solely Taiwan’s folks can resolve their future.
