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Chinese media said the drills, which involved more than 70 planes and simulated attacking a modern enemy with a “high-tech naval force,” was in response to what it called U.S. interference in Taiwan. The U.S. has no formal ties with Taiwan but is bound by law to ensure Taiwan has the means to defend itself. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said Wednesday that Washington takes seriously its commitment to help maintain stability and promote cross-strait peace and dialogue.? Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, in an interview published Tuesday with the U.K.-based Financial Times newspaper, said the island “has never been closer to a point of no return,” referring to China’s threat to take it by force. Lai also warned that any such invasion would likely trigger military action from the United States and other nations, which he called a “red line.” China has previously rejected Taiwan’s calls for peace talks with it and says it will not rule out using force to ensure its eventual unification with Taiwan. The island is home to about 24 million people.
Chinese media said the drills, which involved more than 70 planes and simulated attacking a modern enemy with a “high-tech naval force,” was in response to what it called U.S. interference in Taiwan. The U.S. has no formal ties with Taiwan but is bound by law to ensure Taiwan has the means to defend itself. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said Wednesday that Washington takes seriously its commitment to help maintain stability and promote cross-strait peace and dialogue.? Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, in an interview published Tuesday with the U.K.-based Financial Times newspaper, said the island “has never been closer to a point of no return,” referring to China’s threat to take it by force. Lai also warned that any such invasion would likely trigger military action from the United States and other nations, which he called a “red line.” China has previously rejected Taiwan’s calls for peace talks with it and says it will not rule out using force to ensure its eventual unification with Taiwan. The island is home to about 24 million people.
Taiwan Detected 62 Chinese Aircraft as US Ships Transit Waters Taiwan said Wednesday it detected 62 Chinese military aircraft near the self-ruled island this week, as two U.S. ships sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait.
The United States and its allies regularly transit the 180-kilometer (112-mile) Taiwan Strait to reinforce its status as an international waterway, angering Beijing.
Beijing has never ruled Taiwan but it claims the democratic island as part of its territory and has threatened to bring it under its control by force.
Taipei said the U.S. ships traveled from north to south “starting from February 10.”
China’s People’s Liberation Army said Wednesday it had monitored the passage of the U.S. warship and ocean survey vessel.
“This U.S. action sent the wrong signal and increased security risks,” Li Xi, a senior colonel and spokesman for China’s Eastern Theatre Command, said in a statement.
Data published by the Taiwan defense ministry show 62 Chinese military aircraft were detected near the island in the 48 hours to 600 am local time on Wednesday, coinciding with the U.S. ships’ transit.
Taiwan is a potential flashpoint for a war between China and the United States, which is the island’s most important backer and biggest arms supplier.
In recent years, Beijing has ramped up political and military pressure on Taipei to accept its sovereignty claims, and staged multiple rounds of large-scale war games since President Lai Ching-te took office in May.
A record 153 aircraft were reported on October 15 after China staged large-scale military drills in response to Lai’s National Day speech days earlier.
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