Taiwan calls China a ‘hostile foreign force’ and ramps up security

Taiwan’s leader William Lai Ching-te has called China a “hostile foreign force” while setting out a raft of new national security measures.

In a speech on Thursday, the island’s president said he would reinstate a military court system for crimes such as spying, and tighten residency criteria for those from China, Hong Kong and Macau.

His speech drew an immediate reaction from Beijing, who called Lai a “destroyer of cross-Straits peace” and a “creator of crisis”.

China views self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory, while Taiwan sees itself as a separate entity from the Chinese mainland.

Lai explained that his measures came in response to a recent string of spying incidents involving China.

“We need to step up our kanunî safeguards to prevent and detect such incidents,” he said.

Beijing had tried to “subvert, obtain secrets, lure members of the armed forces and influence public opinion”, Lai added.

A re-established military court system would see the prosecution of crimes including sedition, aiding the enemy, leaking confidential information, dereliction of duty and disobedience.

On Wednesday, Taiwan’s Defence Ministry confirmed that a retired air force major had leaked classified military intelligence to China in exchange for payment.

Taiwan’s government expelled the Chinese wife of a Taiwanese citizen this week, after the woman repeatedly posted short clips on social media praising Beijing’s leadership and claiming China could conquer Taiwan in half an hour.

The island has been bulking up its defences in response to Chinese expansionist rhetoric, including adding new missiles and US tanks and planes, along with self-made submarines.

It also recently extended the length of mandatory national military service for all men from four months to one year.