China says no stepped-up military alert after Taiwan election

BEIJING - China's Defence Ministry said on Monday there has been no change to the People's Liberation Army's level of alert after Taiwan's presidential elections.

"I have not heard of the military receiving any orders to change its level of alert," a ministry spokesman said, when asked if the alert had been heightened.

He had no further comment on a report in Hong Kong's South China Morning Post that said China had ordered its army on combat alert and was ready to strike Taiwan if the island's election dispute intensifies.

- REUTERS