Ahead of polls, China accuses Taiwan ruling party of ‘sowing panic’

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - China on Wednesday reacted to Taiwan's nationwide false security alert, saying the ruling party is attempting to mislead the public by sowing panic.

Reacting to the false missile alert issued by Taiwan's Defense Ministry on Tuesday, just days before the island nation's presidential and legislative elections, China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said, "It is pretty clear what the DPP (Democratic Progressive Party) authorities are trying to do by misleading the public and sowing panic."

The elections are scheduled to take place on Saturday in Taiwan.

Mao, however, stressed that the question regarding Taiwan’s nationwide alert was “not related to China’s foreign affairs,” according to a transcript of her daily news conference.

China considers Taiwan as its “breakaway province” while Taipei has insisted on its independence since 1949.

In a mistake that prompted an apology from Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, the island nation’s military on Tuesday issued a nationwide emergency alert following China’s launch of a satellite into space from southwestern Sichuan province.

However, the English version of the alert read: “Missile flyover Taiwan airspace, be aware.”

The ministry quickly corrected it, saying the English version was "mistaken."

Later in the day, the ministry sought to clarify that its public warning system is merely based on “national security considerations,” rejecting any attempt to link a “mistaken” missile alert with politics.

“On the mistaken English wording of this specific notification,” the ministry extended an “apology to the public and will conduct an internal review to refine the procedure.”

The alert was issued after China blasted into space Einstein Probe satellite carried by the Long March rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on Tuesday to observe mysterious transient phenomena in the universe.​​​​​​​

The “mistaken” alert also comes days before Taiwan’s presidential elections where the ruling DPP has alleged Chinese interference. Beijing has rejected those allegations.