A Taiwan Air Force Mirage 2000-5 aircraft prepares to land at Hsinchu Air Base in Hsinchu, Taiwan April 11, 2023 [Photo: Reuters]
Metropolis Desk-
The Taiwan Strait’s delicate median line, which divides the two sides, was crossed by 10 Chinese warplanes on Sunday, prompting Taiwan to send fighter jets, ships, and land-based missile systems to maintain a watch on Chinese aircraft.
Four Chinese warships also conducted combat patrols, according to the island’s defense minister.
Taiwan has reported increased Chinese military activity twice in less than a week after 37 Chinese military aircraft went into the island’s air defense zone on Thursday, some of which later flew into the western Pacific.
Over the past three years, China, which regards democratically-governed Taiwan as its territory, has routinely deployed its air force close to the island. They have not, however, flown inside Taiwan’s airspace.
Taiwan’s defense ministry issued a brief statement in which it stated that as of Sunday at 2 p.m. (06:00 GMT), it has identified 24 Chinese air force aircraft, including J-10, J-11, J-16, and Su-30 fighters as well as H-6 bombers.
Although it did not say where the planes were flying, the statement said that number 10 had crossed the Taiwan Strait median line, which divides the two sides and was once used as a de facto border that China does not recognize.
The government stated without providing any information that four Chinese naval ships were also participating in “joint combat readiness patrols”. China’s defense ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It has not commented on Thursday’s flights.
Such operations, according to China, are intended to defend national sovereignty and prevent “collusion” between Taiwan and the United States, the island’s main international patron and arms supplier. Following Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s visit to the US in April, China held military games near Taiwan.
Taiwan’s government rejects China’s sovereignty claims and says only the island’s people can decide their future. China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan, which is gearing up for presidential and parliamentary elections in January, under its control.
William Lai, the vice president of Taiwan, promised to “stabilize the peaceful status quo in the Taiwan Strait” if elected president in a video speech to supporters in the Taiwan-controlled Matsu Islands near the Chinese coast on Sunday, according to his campaign headquarters.
Lai is the nominee for the DPP, which is currently in power. Term limitations prevent Tsai from running again.
Tsai has volunteered to talk with China on numerous occasions but has been rejected because Beijing sees her and her party as separatists.
The unofficial liaison between Washington and Taipei is overseen by Laura Rosenberger, chair of the American Institute in Taiwan, who visited Taiwan last week and spoke with all three candidates.
Source – Al Jazeera
