Tension Rises as Chinese Fighter Jets Enter Taiwan’s Defense Area

Beijing –

A tense situation was happening all around Taiwan. The tension occurred after 42 Chinese fighter jets entered the defense area Taiwan.

Reported AFP, Saturday (19/8/2023), the Chinese military again held military exercises in the waters around Taiwan on Saturday (19/8) local time. The latest military drills were described by Beijing as a “severe warning” after China expressed anger at Taiwan Vice President William Lai’s brief visit to the United States.

Lai, who is the front-runner in next year’s Taiwan election, transited New York and returned via San Francisco on his way to Paraguay a few days ago. China later labeled Lai a “troublemaker” and vowed to take “strict measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

News agency reports Xinhuaciting Chinese military spokesman Shi Yi, said the East Zone Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had “launched joint air and sea patrols, and Navy and Air Force military drills around the island of Taiwan.”

Xinhua said the military exercise, the scale of which is unknown, was intended to test the PLA’s ability to “control air and sea space” and fight “in real combat conditions”. The military drills were also meant to serve as a “severe warning against ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist collusion with foreign elements and their provocations.”

China is known to claim Taiwan as part of its territory. China has never ruled out using force to seize it either.

Chinese Fighter Jet Enters Taiwan

Taiwan then detected at least 42 Chinese warplanes had intruded into its air defense zone on Saturday (19/8) morning local time. China’s military activity was detected during military exercises in the vicinity of Taiwan.

“Since 09.00 local time today (19/8), the Armed Forces of the ROC (People’s Republic of China or Taiwan-red) detected 42 PLA (Chinese Liberation Army) aircraft,” said a statement from the Ministry of Defense of Taiwan, as reported by the Ministry of Defence. AFP.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense also said that around 26 Chinese fighter planes flew across the median line of the Taiwan Strait. Eight Chinese ships are also said to have participated in Beijing’s military drills, which Chinese state media say are meant to simulate “real combat conditions”.

“The National Army is monitoring and using reconnaissance methods to strictly control (the situation),” Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said in a statement, adding it also deployed several military aircraft and ships.

(haf/haf)

2023-08-19 16:04:13
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