Taiwan Isn't Intimidated By PLA: Tsai Ing-wen

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said on Tuesday that Taiwan is not feeling intimidated by recent PLA activity around the island and Beijing's actions are only strengthening Taipei's resolve to defend itself, the Central News Agency reported.

Two PLA fighter jets reportedly crossed over the median line in the Taiwan Strait at the end of March, forcing the Taiwanese military to scramble aircraft of its own.

On Monday, Taipei said numerous PLA planes also flew over the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines.

"As president, I want to tell you that Taiwan is not intimidated," Tsai was quoted as saying at a security forum in Taipei.

She added that Taiwan has the ability and determination to defend itself and will not allow coercion to dictate its future, the news agency reported.

In a key speech in January, President Xi Jinping said Taiwan's unification with the mainland is "inevitable" and that Beijing does not rule out using force against the island to make this happen.