China claims Taiwan as its own territory and said that it conducted strike drills in the CE
Taiwan has reported China’s largest-ever incursion in its Air Defense Zone. Taipei says 71 Chinese Air Force aircraft took part in the military drills near the island over the weekend. Taiwan further adds that at least 43 of these planes crossed over Taiwan Strait’s median line in the last 24 hours. The median line is an unofficial buffer between the two sides that lies within the Defense Zone. China which claims Taiwan as its own territory said that it conducted strike drills in the CE and airspace around Taipei.
Beijing says the drill while in response to what it considered provocation from Taipei and Washington after a new U.S. Defense authorization law was passed. The law aims to bolster Taiwan’s defence capabilities against threats from China. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen reiterated the need to boost Taiwan’s Defense capacity. She emphasizes on how it was imperative to be United against China’s growing aggression. However, the Taiwanese President made no mention of the latest military drills by China.
 The Taiwanese Defense Ministry released a statement, “The action of the Chinese Communist Party highlighted its mentality of using force to resolve differences which undermine regional peace and stability.” The tensions surrounding Taiwan have increased substantially this year after U.S house speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei in August.
They follow a long pattern of Chinese intimidation and Chinese aggression that has intensified over the past year—several incidents in terms of the Chinese heightened the tensions. The tension increased both in terms when U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan and in response to other measures of strengthening Taiwan’s U.S. relations. These types of incursions or aggressions are very much in response to Taiwan’s ability and Taiwan’s aspirations to build closer relations with other Democratic Partners around the world. This is how significant these incursions were and this might be what triggered them.
The political message underlying Chinese actions is Taiwan is entering a National Election in January 2024. As the Presidential Election start in the Spring of next year and as a result, the Chinese do want to formulate a message where a vote for it is ruling the DPP party. Taiwan is taking the Chinese incursion very seriously and the double-digit defence increases that have been taking place over the past few years and certainly the government is more focused on how it can build up International Partnerships and strengthen its self-defence. But there is a growing complacency among Taiwan’s population.
