Global Courant
TAIPEI – Eight Chinese aircraft crossed the centerline of the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday morning, Taiwan’s defense ministry said, as China ramps up military pressure on the democratic island.
Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory despite strong objections from the island, has seen almost daily missions from Chinese military aircraft in recent years, often in the southwestern part of the island’s air defense identification zone.
A total of 24 Chinese warplanes, including fighter jets and bombers, were spotted near Taiwan from about 8 a.m. local time on Tuesday morning, the defense ministry said. Four Chinese warships also joined a “joint combat readiness patrol”.
Taiwan sent planes and ships to warn the Chinese away while missile systems kept an eye on them, the ministry said in standard terms for its response.
In a statement, the ministry said it is the joint responsibility of all parties in the region to maintain security and stability.
“Any provocative behavior that can have an impact is not good for regional security,” it said.
China, which has never refrained from using force to take control of Taiwan, organized exercises around the island in April amid anger over President Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with the Speaker of the US House of Representatives.
The government of Taiwan strongly objects to China’s claims of sovereignty and vows to defend itself if China attacks the island. REUTERS
