Searching for 37 Chinese Military Planes and Ships, Taiwan Reacts

Jakarta –

Taiwan found 37 Chinese fighter jets, drones and other aircraft near the island. At the same time Beijing conducted ‘long’ training flights.

Reported by AFP, Sunday (3/11/2024), China has increased military activity around Taiwan in recent years as Beijing pressures Taipei to accept its claim of sovereignty over the island.

The Chinese plane was seen from 9.00 local time. Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense said 35 of them crossed the center line of the Taiwan Strait, which separates mainland China and Taiwan, and entered Taiwan’s airspace en route to the Western Pacific.

Meanwhile Taiwan’s military responded by using aircraft, naval vessels and shore-based missile systems.

The drills came a day after Taiwan said it had detected a Chinese military ‘joint combat readiness patrol’ around the island that included fighter jets and warships.

Taiwan detected 27 Chinese aircraft and six warships in the 24 hours up to 6.00am on Sunday.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory and refuses to rule out the use of force to bring the island’s democracy under its control.

Beijing held large-scale military exercises around Taiwan last month. The military drills have been criticized by Taipei and its main sponsor, the United States.

China’s military conducted a long-range training flight in late September, when Beijing also fired an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean.

(bld/knv)