By Zweli Martin Dlamini

TAIPEI:Taiwan Air Defense has issued a warning directing to all citizens of the south-eastern Chinese province to remain indoors,be on high alert and follow all safety measures this week as tension escalates between Taiwan and China with missiles allegedly detected in the airspace.

A document or notice addressed to all citizens and foreigners residing in Taiwan,sent to this publication suggests that,the Air Defense will be in charge this week to try and defend Taiwan from the air and therefore, citizens were advised to strictly follow the orders of the Military Air Defense and remain indoors.

“When the air-defense alarm sounds(or all citizens receives mobile phone warning messages), citizens shall follow the guidance of the police and civil defense staff to conduct evacuation to the close shelters”, reads the notice in part.

The document further suggests that,the military air-defense operation started on Monday(22nd July 2024) and the citizens are expected to be ‘locked’ within their houses at least until Thursday.

Speaking to this Swaziland News on Thursday morning,Phinda Magagula,an International Business Bachelor’s Degree student based in Taiwan confirmed that, they were locked in their houses as the Taiwan army conducts Air-Defense operations.

“It’s true that we received the notice to remain indoors amid the air-defense operation.Being here is fast becoming more dangerous and my mother who is a Colonel in the eSwatini army advised me to come back home.In fact I sent her the notice seeking advise because she is a soldier and,she told me that Taiwan might be attacked by China anytime and therefore,I must consider coming back home for safety.When we arrived here, we were told that, the threat by China to take over Taiwan has been going on for years but now, it is soon becoming a reality. As I am speaking to you now, we are locked in our houses as the army operates in the air and we are not allowed to come-out without receiving a notice or permission through a message in our cellphones”, said the Taiwan based eSwatini student.

The tension between China and Taiwan escalated shortly after newly elected Taiwan President William Lai Ching-te pledged to defend Taiwanese from Chinese threat to take over the island.

Taiwan is regarded as a Chinese province or part of China in terms of United Nations(UN) Resolution 2758 of 1971.

Jeremy Liang,the Taiwan Ambassador to eSwatini had not responded at the time of compiling this report.

But Mlungisi Makhanya,the President of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) urged the Taiwan leadership to engage in a dialogue with China for purposes of a peaceful re-unification.

“We continue to urge the leadership of Taiwan province to do the right thing and,the thing being to engage in a peaceful dialogue with the leadership of Mainland with the sole view and aim of re-uniting the people of China both in Taiwan and those on the other side in the Mainland.The Chinese Nation rejuvenation can only be achieved and secured through the reunification of China”, said the PUDEMO President.

The PUDEMO President further urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to do everything in his power,to reunify the Chinese people both in Taiwan Province and the Mainland China.

Eswatini has been maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan despite consistent warnings from China and,in complete disregard of the United Nations(UN) Resolution 2758 that recognize the One China Principle.

Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo declined to comment about the tension between Taiwan and China.

On another note,the United States(US)has been expanding military support and deploying troops in one of the islands near Tawain in readiness for a possible military conflict with China,the US is backing Taiwan.