Pompeo ‘sends’ 18 fighter jets to Taiwan: China is bluffing …

WASHINGTON – Action of a dozen fighter jets China above the Strait Taiwan when a senior diplomat United States (US) visiting Taipei received derision from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

“We sent a delegation to the funeral, and China apparently responded with a military bluff,” Pompeo told reporters while traveling in Guyana.

“I will stop there,” he added as quoted from Washington Examiner, Saturday (19/9/2020).

A contingent of 18 warplanes entered Taiwan’s air defense zone on Friday morning, including two bombers and 16 fighter jets, according to Taiwan defense officials. The show of force was intended as a rebuke to Pompeo’s decision to send Deputy Foreign Minister Keith Krach to Taipei, where he attended a memorial service for the late Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui.(Also read: A total of 18 Chinese aircraft buzzed near Taiwan when the US Deputy Secretary of State visited)

“This is a legitimate action and needs to be taken to safeguard China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in response to the current situation in the Taiwan Strait,” Chinese defense ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang told reporters.

Krach is the second high-ranking American official to visit Taiwan in the past six weeks, following a recent coronavirus meeting by US Secretary of Health and Humanity Alex Azar in Taipei.

“It’s absolutely no surprise that China has chosen to react this way, but in the end, I mean, keeping Taiwan safe is this high level of engagement,” said an official with knowledge of the US-Taiwan interaction who was not authorized to speak publicly.

The “attack” was seen as a political statement that was more than a sign of an impending military confrontation.

“The biggest concern is actually accidents,” the official said.

Taiwanese officials urged Beijing not to escalate the conflict between the two sides.

“We hope the other parties can restrain themselves and not escalate the conflict between the two sides,” said Taiwan’s defense ministry.

“This military intimidation has caused hatred among the people of Taiwan,” he continued.(Also read: China War games near Taiwan when US diplomats visit)

China claims sovereignty over Taiwan, the last bastion of the government overthrown during the communist revolution in 1949, but the mainland regime has not controlled the island in decades since.

“Recently, the US authorities and the Democratic Progressive Party have improved their relationship and caused frequent incidents,” said a spokesman for China’s defense ministry, referring to political parties from the ruling authorities in Taiwan.

“It doesn’t matter whether the goal is to fight China or raise the DPP’s status, it is wishful thinking and destined to be a dead end,” he continued.

(ber)

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