Taiwan defense minister says island must defend itself

By HUIZHONG WU
Associated Press

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan’s defense minister says the island must defend itself and not depend entirely on others for help if China were to launch an attack, even as Taiwan’s president says she has faith the U.S. would defend it. Tensions between Taiwan and China have risen to their highest level in decades, with China sending record-breaking numbers of fighter jets toward international airspace close to the island, and stepping up a campaign of military harassment. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry has said that China would have “comprehensive” capabilities to invade the island by 2025. Defense minister Chiu Kuo-cheng has called the increased friction between China and Taiwan the most “severe” he has seen in 40 years.