Northern Luzon soldiers ordered to ready in case China invades Taiwan

Tabuk City, Kalinga – As tensions further rise between China and Taiwan this week, the soldiers in Northern Luzon have been told to be ready should China invade Taiwan.

The rift between the two got more intense on Tuesday, April 1, after China launched military drills around Taiwan as a “stern warning”. The activity, as conveyed by Beijing's Eastern Theatre Command, included the deployment of ships, aircraft and artillery to ‘test forces coordination in combat’.

China likewise called Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te a ‘parasite’.

Responding to the worsening conflict, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief, Gen. Romeo Brawner, on Tuesday told the Northern Luzon Command to ‘prepare for any eventuality’, telling them not just to secure the Northern hemisphere up to the Mavulis Island.

Brawner added that if something happens to Taiwan, the country will be involved in rescue missions, and that the Northern Luzon Command will be at the frontline, particularly in providing aid to P250,000 OFWs working in Taiwan.

“So we will extend our sphere of operations because if something happens to Taiwan, inevitably we will be involved. There are 250,000 OFWs working in Taiwan, and we will have to rescue them, and it will be the task of the Nolcom to be at the frontline of that operation,” he was quoted saying.

Palace Press Officer, Undersecretary Claire Castro, meantime, eased the fear of the public, saying they have nothing to worry about amid the alert of General Brawner to the soldiers.

''Sa aming pagtanto, hindi naman po dapat mabahala ang taumbayan patungkol po dito. Tama lamang po na magkaroon po siya ng reminder sa buong troops pati na din po sa taumbayan na we always should be prepared in all contingencies,'' she said during the palace briefing this Wednesday, April 2.