'We will retaliate': Taiwan preparing for invasion by China

Taiwan is preparing for a potential invasion by China, which could have an impact on the Pacific region and New Zealand.

That was the warning of Taiwan's Representative to New Zealand Joanne Ou, in an exclusive interview on 531pi’s Pacific Mornings.

Last week, China launched military drills around Taiwan, simulating a full-scale attack on the island just days after new Taiwanese president William Lai was sworn in.

Watch Joanne Ou's interview below.

Despite China standing down its drills, Ou says Taiwan remains poised and ready.

“We are of course on high alert. So far, we have kept calm, but we are not asking for war. However, we are fully prepared for that. If they invade us, we will retaliate.

The reason for China's behaviour is that it considers self-governed Taiwan as a breakaway province and hasn’t ruled out using force to seize control of the island.

But Taiwan sees itself as a stand-alone nation, with its constitution and democratically-elected leaders.

“China's recent military drills are truly another aggressive and barbaric act from the Chinese Communist Party, responding to another country's democracy and the celebration of a democratically-elected president's inauguration. Very regrettable,” Ou says.

She also warned that China's interests go far beyond Taiwan, and could seep into other parts of the world including the Pacific.

“It's not only Taiwan, the Pacific, or Africa. In the Middle East and Latin America, their One Belt, One Road initiative shows their global expansion ambition. If their intention was only to take over Taiwan, they wouldn't need intercontinental ballistic missiles.”

Ou went on to stress the importance of all countries, including New Zealand and the Pacific, being better prepared when dealing with China.

“All countries need to be prepared, at least mentally. Be conscious, fully informed, and aware of what's happening. Collaborate with other democracies and governmental institutions.

"We face disinformation and cognitive warfare, and unfortunately, infiltration and espionage have already happened in New Zealand.”

Ou also highlighted the need to diversify markets to avoid dependence on China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, top, and his Taiwanese counterpart William Lai. Photo/supplied

Ou cited China’s Belt and Road programme as one that has “already burned a lot of countries into a debt trap”.

“In the Pacific area, it used to be really peaceful and democratic, so we're seeing some of the countries already changing. For instance, the Solomon Islands.”

She says the Solomons used to be democratic and transparent, but the country has now signed security cooperation and policy agreements with China.

“And so if you go there, you can see the importing (of) the whole Chinese way of, you know, ruling the countries, into controlling the people using their CCTV cameras, the uniforms and either speech, the whole mindset, they're more like becoming like a proxy of communist China, of PRC.”

“That is very alarming. That was not the Solomon Islands we knew. We lost them, of course. And also the things happened with Kiribati, and it just happened with Nauru."

In a message directed at Pacific communities and leaders, Ou emphasised the importance of solidarity and preparedness.

“Taiwan will always defend peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. We need hope but not illusions. It's important to discern true intentions and be critical of what authoritarian regimes say versus what they do."

“For all like-minded democracies, it's crucial to be united, support each other, and enhance partnerships to defend democracy, human rights, freedom, and national dignity. This solidarity is essential for the welfare and security of our people."

Foreign Affairs Minister Vaovasamania Winston Peters has declined a request to comment.

The Chinese Embassy in New Zealand has also been contacted.