TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) administration on Thursday (May 23) condemned the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) exercises around Taiwan and its outer islands as threatening regional peace and stability and vowed to “defend democracy.”

Taiwan Presidential Office spokesperson Kuo Ya-hui (郭雅慧) at 2 p.m. issued an official response to the Chinese exercises. Kuo said the prevailing consensus of the international community is to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region. 

“However, it is regrettable to see China engaging in unilateral military provocations that threaten Taiwan’s democracy and freedom, as well as regional peace and stability,” said Kuo. 

Kuo said the Presidential Office's consistent position is that maintaining regional peace and stability is a “shared responsibility and goal of both sides of the Taiwan Strait.” The spokesperson said the national security team and all military units have a comprehensive understanding of the situation regarding the military exercises.

“In the face of external challenges and threats, we will continue to defend democracy,” vowed Kuo. She said the public can rest easy as Taiwan is confident in its ability to protect national security. 

At 9 a.m., the MND said the PLA's Eastern Theater Command announced that it would conduct the “Joint Sword-2024A” military exercise in the sea and airspace surrounding Taiwan on Thursday and Friday (May 24).