China last year staged unprecedented military exercises around Taiwan in reaction to a visit to the island by then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Chiu said China was looking to “make trouble under a certain pretext”, adding that might include visits to the island made by senior foreign government officials or Taiwan’s frequent military contacts with other countries.
When asked by a lawmaker if the United States was planning to store some of its military equipment in Taiwan, Chiu said such discussions were going on but he declined to elaborate.
The United States is Taiwan’s most important international arms supplier and the increasing US support for the democratic island has added to tension in already strained US-Sino relations.
Chiu said the PLA sends about 10 planes or ships to areas near Taiwan a day. Some cross the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which has traditionally served as an unofficial buffer, on an almost daily basis, he said.
Chiu said since China has abandoned a tacit agreement on military movements in the Strait, Taiwan has made preparations to “fire the first shot” if Chinese entities, including drones or balloons, enter its territorial space.
China claims self-governed Taiwan as its own and has not renounced the use of force to bring it under Chinese control, if needed. Taiwan strongly rejects China’s sovereignty claims and says only its people can decide their future.