Taiwan Detects Chinese Aircraft: Taiwan saw 62 Chinese aircraft flying near the island on Friday, May 24, as Beijing threatened to go to war over Taiwan and stated it would increase countermeasures until “complete reunification” was attained. This can be interpreted as China declaring war on Taiwan.
On the second day of the exercises, Taiwan’s defense ministry said that Chinese warships and fighter jets surrounded the island. Beijing claimed the drills were an attempt to gauge its capacity to take the island.
Beijing surrounded Taiwan’s self-governing territory with military planes and naval vessels on Thursday morning as part of the commencement of China’s military drills. Blood from “independence forces” would flow, China promised.
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As per Wionews, Taiwan regards itself as a separate country from China, but since the Chinese Civil War in the 1940s, Beijing has claimed Taipei as its own. China claims that by pursuing official independence, the island nation will reject the one-nation principle. Beijing even declared that it would bring the two regions together by force if necessary.
Three days following the inauguration of Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, the drills took place. Lai has promised to expand Taiwan’s defense sector and bolster security by bringing in cutting-edge fighters and other equipment.
Beijing claimed that Taiwan’s political developments did not change the “fact” that it is a part of China when Lai took the oath of office. Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin stated, “The historical and legal fact that both sides of the strait belong to one China will not change, no matter how the internal political situation in Taiwan changes.”
The defense ministry in Taipei announced on Friday that it has seen 62 aircraft, including fighter jets, bombers, and cargo patrol planes, flying over Taiwan since 7:14 am (2314 Thursday). In 24 hours, this is the most airplanes that have been spotted this year.
According to the ministry, out of the 62 aircraft, “47 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, central and southern ADIZ (air defence identification zone) to collaborate with 27 naval vessels and coast guard ships in military exercises” .
“Joint Sword-2024A” was the name of the drill day one. On the first day, Taipei discovered 49 Chinese aircraft in the vicinity of Taiwan.
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The purpose of the war exercises, according to a Chinese military spokeswoman, was to assess the “capability of joint seizure of power, joint strikes, and control of key territories”.
However, Lai “has seriously challenged the one-China principle… pushing our compatriots in Taiwan into a perilous situation of war and danger,” according to Wu Qian, a spokeswoman for Beijing’s defense ministry, on Friday.
“Every time ‘Taiwan independence’ provokes us, we will push our countermeasures one step further, until the complete reunification of the motherland is achieved,” he stated.
