China is intensifying tensions with Taiwan and the US. Never before have so many military aircraft tested Taiwan’s air defense as it is now around the Chinese national holiday. Concern grows.
With new military provocations against Taiwan, China has reinforced its claim to rule over the free island republic.
Around China’s National Day, China’s military sent a record number of aircraft into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) for two days in a row as a show of strength. After 38 on Friday, the Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported 39 aircraft on Saturday – more than ever before. On Sunday it was 16 again during the day. The US government criticized the military actions.
In response, Taiwan activated its missile defense and sent planes into the air to observe the Chinese J-16 and Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets, as well as transport and early warning aircraft. The Chinese pilots were also warned over the radio. Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang condemned Beijing’s actions as illegal and said China was undermining peace in the region. Foreign Minister Joseph Wu called the actions “threatening”.
The United States followed the development “very closely,” said Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks. When asked about a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan, Hicks said the US had sizeable armed forces in the region “to contain such potential,” Taiwan’s CNA news agency quoted as saying. The US has a good relationship with Taiwan. Hicks also pointed out that the US had committed itself to the defense capability of Taiwan since the 1970s. The US mainly supplies weapons.
The violations of the identification zone for air defense had already reached the highest level since the “missile crisis” in Taiwan in 1996, but were increased again after the inauguration of US President Joe Biden in January. Beijing is thus turning the escalation spiral and increasing the pressure on the USA, which has upgraded its relations with Taiwan. The government in Taipei, which under President Tai Ing-wen is clearly distancing itself from Beijing, is also to be intimidated.
While democratic Taiwan has long considered itself independent, Beijing speaks of separatism. The communist leadership of China sees the now democratic Taiwan, which split off from the mainland in 1949, as an “inseparable” part of the People’s Republic, although it was never part of it. It threatens a violent conquest in order to achieve “reunification”.
It also tries to isolate Taiwan internationally. The People’s Republic rejects any form of formal relations between other countries and the island republic. Only 15 countries worldwide recognize Taiwan and have to forego diplomatic relations with China. Germany also does not officially recognize Taiwan out of consideration for Beijing, but maintains a representative office in Taipei.
The dispute over Taiwan’s status stems from the civil war in China when the troops of the national Chinese Kuomintang fled to Taiwan after their defeat by the communists. The Communist People’s Republic was founded in Beijing in 1949, while Taiwan was ruled as the “Republic of China”.
According to Taiwanese experts, China’s People’s Liberation Army apparently wants to demonstrate coordinated combat capabilities with the military flights near the island, which has a population of 23 million. The flights took place day and night. The planes also came from different squadrons, as the news agency CNA reported.
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