Taipei [Taiwan] October 3 (ANI): Taiwan on Saturday said that at least 58 Chinese warplanes entered its air identification zone (ADIZ) in the last two days of which 20 of them flew in on Saturday alone.
A total of 38 Chinese military planes, such as fighter jets and bombers, entered the area on Friday, Kyodo News reported citing the Defense Ministry.
These are said to be the biggest incursions by the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) since Taipei began publicly reporting such activities last year.
“Oct. 1 wasn’t a good day. The #PLAAF flew 38 warplanes into #Taiwan‘s ADIZ, making it the largest number of daily sorties on record. Threatening? Of course. It’s strange the #PRC doesn’t bother faking excuses anymore,” Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a tweet.
Meanwhile, these Taiwanese military planes were scrambled in response on both days to warn the Chinese aircraft away, Kyodo News reported.
Earlier on Friday, Twenty-five PLA warplanes entered the southwestern corner of the ADIZ during daylight hours, and another 13 planes entered the island’s southwest ADIZ on Friday night, the ministry said in a statement.
The incursions happened as Beijing claims full sovereignty over Taiwan, a democracy of almost 24 million people located off the southeastern coast of mainland China, despite the fact that the two sides have been governed separately for more than seven decades.
Taipei, on the other hand, has countered the Chinese aggression by increasing strategic ties with democracies including the US, which has been repeatedly opposed by Beijing. China has threatened that “Taiwan‘s independence” means war.
On June 1, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to complete reunification with self-ruled Taiwan and vowed to smash any attempts at formal independence for the island.
Taiwan deplores Chinese air force’s incursion, accuses Beijing of damaging regional peace
Taiwan has accused China of engaging in military aggression and damaging regional peace after 38 Chinese aircraft entered the island’s nations air defence zone. “China has been wantonly engaged in military aggression, damaging regional peace,” Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang told reporters on Saturday morning.
Taiwan on Friday said 38 Chinese warplanes entered its air identification zone (ADIZ) on Friday, in what appears to be the biggest incursion by Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) since Taipei began publicly reporting such activities last year, Taiwan News reported. PLA Air Force aircraft came in two waves, CNN reported citing Taiwan‘s Defence Ministry.
A many as 25 PLA warplanes entered the southwestern corner of the ADIZ during daylight hours, and another 13 planes entered the island’s southwest ADIZ on Friday night, the ministry said in a statement.
The later flight included 10 J-16s, two H-6s and one KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft, it added. The incident took place on the day when China was celebrating the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People Republic of China (PRC).
Since mid-September last year, Beijing has stepped up its grey-zone tactics by regularly sending planes into Taiwan‘s ADIZ, with most instances occurring in the southwest corner of the zone and usually consisting of one to three slow-flying turboprop planes.
Beijing claims full sovereignty over Taiwan, a democracy of almost 24 million people located off the southeastern coast of mainland China, despite the fact that the two sides have been governed separately for more than seven decades.
US concerned by ‘provocative’ Chinese military action near Taiwan: State Dept
The United States on Sunday expressed concern over China‘s “provocative” military activity near Taiwan. This reaction comes after nearly 60 Chinese warplanes entered its air identification zone (ADIZ) in the last two days of which 20 of them flew in on Saturday alone.
“The United States is very concerned by the People’s Republic of China‘s provocative military activity near Taiwan, which is destabilizing, risks miscalculations, and undermines regional peace and stability. We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure and coercion against Taiwan,” the US Department of State said in a statement.
The State Department urged Beijing to end “coercion” against Taiwan, which China sees as its breakaway province. It said that Washington had an abiding interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and vowed to stand with its ally.
“We have an abiding interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. We will continue to assist Taiwan in maintaining a sufficient self-defense capability, and we will maintain our commitments as outlined in the Three Communiques, the Taiwan Relations Act, and the Six Assurances.”
The US commitment to Taiwan is rock solid and contributes to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and within the region, it added.
These latest incursions are said to be the biggest incursions by the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) since Taipei began publicly reporting such activities last year.
The incursions happened as Beijing claims full sovereignty over Taiwan. Taipei has countered the Chinese aggression by increasing strategic ties with democracies including the US, which has been repeatedly opposed by Beijing.
UK Navy frigate’s passage through Taiwan Strait triggers China
British Royal Navy’s frigate Her Majesty’s Ship (HMS) Richmond reached Vietnam on Friday through Taiwan Strait, on a four-day friendly visit, that has irked China which has condemned the vessel’s passage through the sensitive strait as “a meaningless display of presence with an insidious intention.”
A picture of HMS Richmond arriving at Cam Ranh Bay was posted by the British Envoy to Vietnam.
“The ship’s presence underlines the U.K.’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific, at the heart of which lies the U.K.’s partnership with Vietnam,” said British Embassy in Hanoi in a statement, reported Radio Free Asia. The statement also said that the frigate will conduct “bilateral cooperation activities” with Vietnam. A few days ago China condemned the frigate passage through the Taiwan Strait, but UK made it clear that Taiwan Strait is part of international waters and free and open Indo-Pacific region.
HMS Richmond also broadcasted its location while passing through the strait. This move seemed to provoke China and it dispatched military units to follow and monitor the frigate’s passage. The Royal Navy has also deployed two patrol vessels to the Indo-Pacific on a five-year mission to bolster Britain’s presence in the region, reports Radio Free Asia.
Earlier in July, the UK Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace made his first-ever visit to Vietnam. Radio Free Asia commented that Hanoi has always been careful not to offend Beijing and the HMS Richmond‘s visit is not being featured yet in main official news outlets such as the Nhan Dan (the Communist Party’s mouthpiece) and Quan Doi Nhan Dan (the Vietnamese army’s newspaper).
However, the media outlet said that China‘s increasing assertiveness, especially in the South China Sea where the two neighbors have overlapping claims, has led Vietnam to expand its military and strategic cooperation with other nations. (ANI)
