Taiwan Detects Record 153 Chinese Military Aircraft After Drills

 

Taiwan Detects Record 153 Chinese Military Aircraft After Drills

Taiwan detected a record 153 Chinese military aircraft around the self-ruled island, according to official data released following large-scale drills conducted by China. The aircraft were observed within a 25-hour period ending at 6:00 am on Tuesday (2200 GMT Monday), marking the highest number recorded in a single day. Beijing's deployment of fighter jets, drones, warships, and coast guard vessels to encircle Taiwan prompted a response from Taiwan, which dispatched "appropriate forces" and placed its outlying islands on heightened alert. Taiwan, along with the US, criticized China's actions as irrational and provocative. 

Japan also expressed concerns over the drills and scrambled fighter jets near its southern island of Yonaguni. China maintains its claim over Taiwan as part of its territory and has made it clear that it will not hesitate to use force to assert control. In recent years, Beijing has increased military pressure on Taipei to acknowledge its sovereignty claims over the island, with the latest drills marking the fourth round of large-scale exercises in just over two years. 

Amid these developments, Taiwan's defense ministry reported a total of 14 Chinese navy ships during the same 25-hour period, a slight decrease from the 17 ships announced earlier on Monday. Notably, 111 of the spotted aircraft crossed the median line of the sensitive Taiwan Strait that separates mainland China and Taiwan. The United States criticized China's actions as unwarranted and warned of potential escalation while urging Beijing to act with restraint. China, referring to the drills as Joint Sword 2024B, stated that they took place in areas to the north, south, and east of Taiwan, concluding around 6:00 pm on Monday after roughly 13 hours. 

These exercises were described by China as a stern warning to what it perceives as separatist actions by the forces advocating for Taiwanese independence. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, who assumed office in May, has taken a firm stance on defending Taiwan's sovereignty, drawing ire from Beijing, which labels him a separatist. In a National Day speech, Lai emphasized resistance against annexation and reiterated that Beijing and Taipei are not subordinate to each other. Lai reaffirmed his commitment to protecting democratic Taiwan and safeguarding national security. The launch of Joint Sword-2024A by China, just three days after Lai's inauguration, preceded the most recent drills. The longstanding dispute between China and Taiwan traces back to a civil war that resulted in Chiang Kai-shek's nationalist forces fleeing to the island after being defeated by Mao Zedong's communist fighters in 1949.