Taiwanese Defense Minister Chiu Kucheng confirmed the readiness of his country's forces in anticipation of the Chinese forces approaching the Taiwanese defenses.
On Monday, Taiwanese Defense Minister Chiu Kucheng announced readiness and preparations in anticipation of the approach of Chinese forces to the Taiwanese defenses.
This came during his response to questions from the Legislative Body's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday, according to the local "Taiwan News" news website.
The committee asked the minister questions related to Taiwan's arms stockpiles, a possible visit by US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and possible retaliatory measures by China, such as an incursion into the area bordering Taiwan, which extends 44.4 km from the coast.
The minister said that preparations had been made, including standing by in anticipation of Chinese forces getting any closer to Taiwan's defences.
"We will exercise restraint and not launch the first strike," he added.
Qiu had noted during the same session that the Chinese People's Liberation Army might find excuses to enter areas close to Taiwan's territorial air and sea space, with the island strengthening its military relations with the United States.
The tension between Taiwan and China increased after the visit of Nancy Pelosi, President of the US Congress, to the island, and following this visit, China carried out multiple sorties that crossed the line separating the two countries in the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan, which has a population of 23 million, fears that China will invade it, as it considers it one of its provinces that it has not yet succeeded in annexing to the rest of its lands.
During the month of martial law, more than 65,000 residents in five Sagaing townships had to flee
2023 From February 2nd, Khin Oo from Sagaing Division, water Tang Dam Even this Sal Lingyi Yes, pearl Ban Mok Colin, On February 22, Shwebo, Shwebo, and Myoung Townships were declared under martial law. The townships of Wat Lak and Erdato were added.
According to the list collected by RFA, during the month of February, more than 65,000 local residents fled their homes due to military patrols in 14 townships. This is Khin Oo, pig hands Even this Only the number of war-affected refugees from Pular and Ertao townships, and the number of war-affected refugees from the other nine townships that have been declared under martial law, are not yet included.
"Now, the property line is returning to the villages that have already entered. "
A resident of Khin Oo said that since February 9th, around 100 forces from the Military Council Division (33) and Division (66) that came out of Ye Oo Township have been marching into Khin Oo Township and burning.
"From the time martial law was declared, on February 9th, we began patrolling inside Khin Oo Township. Until today, I still haven't left Khin Oo Township. Every day, we make columns, The lights went out. I kill people. If it was burned in the past, it was just normal burning. Now they are using incendiary bombs that are around one inch. It's the kind of pattern that has been widely practiced with a systematic purpose."
According to local residents in contact with RFA, the townships that have been declared under martial law have from one column to a maximum of four columns, with a total of around 1,000 military council soldiers.
Within a month of the declaration of martial law, more than 600 houses in seven villages in Khin Oo were burned down and more than 15,000 residents fled, according to the resident who compiled these lists.
On February 22nd, a military helicopter raided Mentha village, and on February 23rd, a military helicopter raided Ertaw Township, said a member of the Ertaw Regional Defense Force.
"When they built your village, they protected it for fear that these groups would burn it down, so they couldn't leave. When I couldn't get out, I rode four Huskies into the village of Mentha, where there were only people. After raiding, they set fire to the hospital where the injured people were staying. After setting fire, they captured about 150 hostages, and now they are burning down the village. Because with the hostages"
It is said that around 10,000 local residents are fleeing, and at least six villages have been burned and 10 people have been killed.
Wetlet Township is also being attacked by four columns of 100 military council soldiers for days, said Boti, who is in charge of the Togyi Serpent Group in Wetlet Township.
"I can only say that their strategy has been very good lately. Their exact strength has become forms that cannot be predicted anymore. The force moves, especially at night, so we can't predict their strength. But the strength in Wetlet Township is not less. I don't listen like before. The column is three, They are knitting four lines. Even so, it's not the whole township yet."
In one month, about 400 houses in 10 villages were burned down, and about 5,000 residents fled their homes, and 100 people were killed.
Boti also said that there were daily battles throughout the month of February because there were battalions armed by the National Unity Government (NUG) in Sagaing.
Social Minister U Aye Hlaing, who is authorized to speak in Sagaing Region of the Military Council, responded to RFA that since it is martial law, the security groups will manage what needs to be managed.
"Those areas are more unreliable in terms of security than the rest, so they are declared. After the declaration, they are governed by martial law. So, once they are governed by martial law, those security groups will manage what they have to manage."
A member of the Sar Lingyi-Yin Ma Pin strike committee said that the villages in Ye Ma Pin were also being cleared by police battalion No. 28 based in the Chinese Wang Pao Company and a 100-strong column from the Northwestern Military Command (NAMA) based in Monywa.
Ko Thet Oo, a member of the Sal Lingyi-Yin Ma Pin strike committee, said that the more pressing of the townships that have been declared under martial law is to gain territorial dominance and instill fear.
"Now, the property column is returning to the villages that have already entered. I left today. The next day, there are villages that I went back to. Let fear prevail. I see it as a political act to make the area peaceful and dominate the area. The main thing is to instill fear in the people. The bloodshed between the revolutionaries and the people. As for those who were arrested, many of their policies were dull.
Ko Thet Oo said that there are currently three lines in Ma Pin Township, around 400 homes have been burned, and almost all residents of 15 villages have fled to safety.
In Pulay Township, within a month of martial law being declared, seven local residents were killed, and about 15,000 local residents from 12 villages are fleeing, said Ko Pei, who is in charge of the local defense force, Downnet Group.
In Van Mauk Township, some residents fled to other areas due to previous fighting, and currently, the military council has increased their forces on a road between Van Mauk and Into, a resident of Van Mauk told RFA.
The local defense forces and local residents said that they saw the military council troops entering and burning villages in townships declared under martial law, but the RFA has not been able to independently confirm this.
From the time of the military coup in 2023, Until the declaration of martial law at the end of January, Khin Oo, pig hands pearl Residents said that there were about 98,000 war refugees in Imapin and Ertao townships.
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