China’s military has sent 71 planes and seven ships toward Taiwan in a 24-hour show of force targeting the self-governing island, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said on Monday, after China expressed anger over Taiwan-related provisions in an annual United States defense spending bill.
China’s military harassment of Taiwan, which it claims is its own territory, has intensified in recent years, with the Communist Party’s People’s Liberation Army sending planes or ships to the island almost daily.
Between 6 a.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday, 47 of the Chinese planes crossed the median of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial boundary once tacitly accepted by both sides, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense.
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In this undated file photo released by Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, a Chinese PLA J-16 fighter jet flies at an undisclosed location. China’s military has sent 71 aircraft, including J16 fighter jets, and seven ships toward Taiwan in a 24-hour show of force aimed at the island, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said Monday, December 26, 2022, after it China will express its anger over the provisions related to Taiwan. in an annual US defense spending bill passed Saturday.
(Taiwan Ministry of Defense via AP)
Among the planes China sent to Taiwan were 18 J-16 fighter jets, 11 J-1 fighters, 6 Su-30 fighters and drones.
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Taiwan said it was monitoring Chinese movements through its ground-based missile systems, as well as on its own warships.
Taiwan is staging military exercises to show its ability to resist Chinese pressure to accept Beijing’s political control over the island.
(AP Photo/Johnson Lai)
“This is a strong response to the ongoing escalation and provocation between the US and Taiwan,” Shi Yi, a spokesman for the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command, said in a statement late Sunday. He announced that the PLA was conducting joint combat patrols and joint attack drills in the waters around Taiwan.
Shi was referring to the US defense spending bill, which calls China a strategic challenge. With respect to the Indo-Pacific region, the legislation authorizes further security cooperation with Taiwan and requires further cooperation with India on emerging defense technologies, readiness and logistics.
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In Washington, a White House National Security Council official said China’s military activity near Taiwan was “destabilizing, risks miscalculation and undermines regional peace and stability.”
A member of the People’s Liberation Army looks through binoculars during military exercises as Taiwan’s Lan Yang frigate is seen in the rear, Friday, Aug. 5, 2022.
(Lin Jian/Xinhua via AP)
The official, who was not authorized to be named and commented on condition of anonymity, said: “The United States has a continuing interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We will continue to help Taiwan maintain a sufficient self-defense capability.” . in line with our long-standing commitments and in line with our one-China policy.”
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China’s military has often used large military exercises as a show of force in response to US government actions in support of Taiwan.
It conducted major live-fire military exercises in August in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. Beijing views foreign government visits to the island as de facto recognition of the island as independent and a challenge to China’s claim to sovereignty.
