China has recently significantly increased its military presence around Taiwan. Now, according to the Ministry of Defense in Taipei, numerous Chinese fighter jets have once again entered the island’s air surveillance zone.
According to information from Taiwan, China flew 28 fighter jets around the island nation on Sunday. According to the Ministry of Defense in Taipei, 20 of these aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the southeast and southwest air surveillance zones of the island. China is carrying out “missions such as long-range exercises and training,” the defense ministry continued, saying it was monitoring the situation with patrol aircraft and ships.
China’s military presence around Taiwan is increasing
Since the political split between mainland China and Taiwan in 1949, Beijing has viewed the democratic island as a breakaway territory that it wants to reunite with the mainland – if necessary with military force. According to information from Taipei, the presence of Chinese warships and army aircraft around Taiwan has recently increased significantly. The Defense Ministry said 68 Chinese aircraft and ten naval ships were spotted around the island between Wednesday morning and Thursday morning.
The US has been supporting Taiwan in building up its defense capability for decades, but has not explicitly committed to providing military assistance to the island in the event of an attack. However, the United States has concluded a defense pact with other countries in the region, including Japan.
Just on Friday, China imposed punitive measures on two US defense companies for arms sales to Taiwan. According to its “Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law,” Beijing has decided to impose sanctions on Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. China is calling on the US to stop selling weapons to Taiwan. Otherwise, there will “inevitably be a decisive and strong reaction from China.”
The US Congress committed itself to supplying arms to the democratic island for its defense in the Taiwan Relations Act. So far, Washington has relied more on sales than direct military aid. However, in August the US approved direct military aid to Taiwan for the first time as part of an aid program for foreign governments.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
