Taiwan reported yesterday a renewed Chinese military activity near the island after 12 aircraft flew over the sensitive central line of the Taiwan Strait, a day after the United States (U.S.) Secretary of State Antony Blinken completed his visit to China.
The U.S. is Taiwan’s most important international supporter and arms supplier despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations. Blinken said he emphasized the “critical importance” of maintaining peace and stability across the strait while in China.
Democratic Taiwan has faced increased military pressure from China, which views the island as its territory. The Taiwanese government rejects this.
Taiwan’s defense ministry reported that it had detected 22 Chinese military aircraft, including Su-30 fighters, from 9:30 a.m. (Saturday, 1:30 a.m. Central European Time), of which 12 crossed the middle line towards the north and center of Taiwan.
The line once served as an unofficial boundary over which no army crossed, but Chinese air forces now regularly send aircraft across it. China does not recognize the existence of the line.
Taiwan’s defense ministry said the aircraft were involved in “joint combat readiness patrols” with Chinese warships, adding that Taiwanese aircraft and ships responded “appropriately”. No further details were provided.
The Chinese defense ministry did not respond to media calls on Saturday.
Taiwan’s armed forces are well-equipped and trained compared to China’s, especially the navy and air force, which respond almost daily to Chinese missions.
China considers Taiwan the most important issue in its relations with the U.S., and Beijing has repeatedly demanded Washington end weapons sales to Taiwan.
Taiwan’s newly elected president, Lai Ching-te, will take office on May 20th after winning the January elections. Beijing regards him as a “dangerous separatist” and has rejected his repeated calls for talks.
On Thursday, Lai said China should have confidence and talk to Taiwan’s legally elected government. Like outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen, Lai says only the people of Taiwan can decide their future, Slobodna Evropa reports.
Photo: AP/archive
