LBCI

Taiwan's Defense Minister says his country does not seek war with China

World News

16-06-2024 | 23:32

Share

Share

Taiwan's Defense Minister says his country does not seek war with China

Taiwan is not seeking war with Beijing, and its policy is to build up a defensive, multi-level deterrence capability to make it harder for China to capture the island, Taiwan Defense Minister Wellington Koo said on Monday.

Democratically governed Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, has faced a stepped-up military and political pressure campaign from Beijing to accept sovereignty claims that the government in Taipei rejects.

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te on Sunday said that China views the annexation and "elimination" of Taiwan as its great national cause, telling Taiwanese military cadets not to give in to the defeatism of "the first battle is the last battle", a theory that Taiwan could collapse as soon as China launched an attack.

Asked at parliament by reporters how long Taiwan could hold out without US support in the event of a Chinese attack, Koo said that was not the point of their strategy.

Reuters

World News

Taiwan

Defense Minister

War

China

Policy

Island

Next

Afghanistan earthquake death toll rises to 622

Recommended For You

Trump set to expand immigration crackdown in 2026 despite brewing backlash

07:11

Trump set to expand immigration crackdown in 2026 despite brewing backlash

Putin's readiness to speak with Macron 'welcome': French presidency

05:23

Putin's readiness to speak with Macron 'welcome': French presidency

Kremlin denies three-way US-Ukraine-Russia talks in preparation: Russian agencies

03:49

Kremlin denies three-way US-Ukraine-Russia talks in preparation: Russian agencies

Australia falls silent for Bondi Beach shooting victims

03:14

Australia falls silent for Bondi Beach shooting victims

Subscribe to our VOD

SUBSCRIBE

Our visitors readings

Female suspect, 38, charged in Louvre heist: AFP

2025-11-01

Female suspect, 38, charged in Louvre heist: AFP

Syrian FM Asaad al-Shaibani to visit Beirut on Friday

2025-10-09

Syrian FM Asaad al-Shaibani to visit Beirut on Friday

NBC News: Netanyahu plans to brief Trump on possible new strikes on Iran

Middle East News

10:16

NBC News: Netanyahu plans to brief Trump on possible new strikes on Iran

Samir Geagea says Speaker Berri responsible for parliament’s failure to convene

2025-09-30

Samir Geagea says Speaker Berri responsible for parliament’s failure to convene

Videos

Pope Leo XIV urges leaders to hear their people’s cry for peace, singles out Lebanon (video)

2025-12-02

Pope Leo XIV urges leaders to hear their people’s cry for peace, singles out Lebanon (video)

At Beirut waterfront, Pope Leo XIV rides through cheering crowds (video)

2025-12-02

At Beirut waterfront, Pope Leo XIV rides through cheering crowds (video)

At Beirut Port, Pope Leo XIV offers silent prayer for blast victims (video)

2025-12-02

At Beirut Port, Pope Leo XIV offers silent prayer for blast victims (video)

Pope Leo XIV opens hospital visit with Arabic ’Sabah el-kheir’ — Video

2025-12-02

Pope Leo XIV opens hospital visit with Arabic ’Sabah el-kheir’ — Video

Pope Leo XIV tells Lebanese youth Lebanon’s future ‘is in your hands’; watch full speech here

2025-12-01

Pope Leo XIV tells Lebanese youth Lebanon’s future ‘is in your hands’; watch full speech here

Pope Leo XIV moved by youth turnout in Bkerke: Video

2025-12-01

Pope Leo XIV moved by youth turnout in Bkerke: Video

Pope Leo leaves for Istanbul—Video

Middle East News

2025-11-27

Pope Leo leaves for Istanbul—Video

Pope Leo arrives at Turkey's Presidential Palace—Video

Middle East News

2025-11-27

Pope Leo arrives at Turkey's Presidential Palace—Video

Pope Leo visits Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's mausoleum—Video

Middle East News

2025-11-27

Pope Leo visits Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's mausoleum—Video

Most read

24 hours

7 days

Month

Israeli military signals readiness for broader Lebanon operation pending political decision—the details

1

Israeli military signals readiness for broader Lebanon operation pending political decision—the details

Syria warns of halting cooperation with Lebanon as progress continues on Syrian prisoners issue

2

Syria warns of halting cooperation with Lebanon as progress continues on Syrian prisoners issue

Israeli army claims targeting Hezbollah member in Yater, South Lebanon

3

Israeli army claims targeting Hezbollah member in Yater, South Lebanon

Iraqi PM affirms support for Lebanon’s stability in call with President Aoun

4

Iraqi PM affirms support for Lebanon’s stability in call with President Aoun

NBC News: Netanyahu plans to brief Trump on possible new strikes on Iran

5

NBC News: Netanyahu plans to brief Trump on possible new strikes on Iran

Israel's security cabinet approves 19 new settlements in West Bank: Statement

6

Israel's security cabinet approves 19 new settlements in West Bank: Statement

Israeli military says detained suspected IS jihadist in Syria

7

Israeli military says detained suspected IS jihadist in Syria

Australia falls silent for Bondi Beach shooting victims

8

Australia falls silent for Bondi Beach shooting victims

Download now the LBCI mobile app

To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world

Google Play

App Store

Download now the LBCI mobile app

We use
cookies

We use cookies to make
your experience on this
website better.

Accept

Learn More