In 24 hours, China’s military has sent 103 warplanes toward Taiwan, making it a new daily record in recent history. This move of China has made Taiwan’s defense ministry call upon China and ask them to stop its “military harassment”.
A “recent high” of 103 Chinese military aircraft, including fighter planes, have been sighted over the sea since Sunday, according to the ministry. It has also informed it detected nine navy ships. These aircraft were spotted between 6 a.m. on Sunday and 6 a.m. on Monday, with the customary turn back before reaching Taiwan’s airspace.
Its depiction of Chinese activity over the previous 24 hours showed 40 of the planes flying over the Taiwan Strait’s median line, which up until China started routinely crossing it a year ago acted as an informal border between the two sides.
Through the Bashi Channel, which separates Taiwan from the Philippines, other planes flew south of the island.
China-Taiwan:
Chian asserts Taiwan as part of its territory and has been conducting increasingly large-scale military exercises in the vicinity of Taiwan, both in the air and at sea, amid escalating tensions with both Taiwan and the United States of America.
The U.S. has been a primary supplier of arms to Taiwan and opposes any attempts to alter Taiwan’s status through force.
Chinese activities threat to Taiwan’s security:
Taiwanese ministry in an accompanying statement said that Chinese activities over the past day posed “serious challenges” to security in the strait and regionally. It went on to say that everyone in the region shares responsibility for maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
The ministry urged China to “immediately stop such destructive unilateral actions” and warned that Communist military harassment “can easily lead to a sharp increase in tensions and worsen regional security.”
Tony Hu, a former senior director of the US Defense Department for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia, claimed that while the Chinese actions took place in international airspace, they were not against international law but rather had the “intent to frighten Taiwan and try to flex their muscle.” Beijing might be hoping for a response from Taiwan but that is unlikely to happen, said he.
Hu told Al Jazeera that Taiwan is keeping track of its warning radar and making sure the air defense missile system is prepared just in case China makes a wrong turn and initiates any kind of attack which is sufficient. Taiwan does not go up and match them every time. Taiwan goes up there periodically to deliver the message “Hey, I’m here watching you.”
Taiwan last week detected exercises by the Chinese navy and its Shandong aircraft carrier in the western Pacific in addition to the air force’s operations over the weekend.
A fast combat support ship, a destroyer, a frigate, and the Shandong were all spotted by the Japanese navy, according to the country’s defense ministry, 650 kilometers (400 miles) south of Miyakojima Island, located east of Taiwan. Additionally confirmed are reports of helicopters and jets seen departing and arriving from Shandong.
China is yet to comment officially on any recent drills being conducted in the area.
