Taiwan’s defence ministry: Taiwan’s defence ministry announced on Saturday that, one month ahead of the island’s May 20 inauguration of new president Lai Ching-te, it had discovered 21 Chinese military aircraft circling the self-governing territory since 8:15 am (00:15 GMT).
China has said that it will never give up using force to annex democratic Taiwan and claims the island as part of its sovereignty.
Since Vice President Lai—who Beijing views as a “dangerous separatist”—was chosen to govern the island as its new leader in January, tensions between the two sides of the strait, which is only 180 kilometres (110 miles) wide, have increased.
Experts also speculated that the Taiwan show of force may have been triggered by military exercises between the US and the Philippines, which begin on Monday, close to the South China Sea, which Beijing claims as its own.
According to Taipei’s defense ministry, 21 Chinese aircraft, including J-16 fighter jets, Y-8 medium-range transport planes, and drones, have been spotted flying over Taiwan since 8:15 am (00:15 GMT).
In a statement released on X at 11:30 am, it stated that “17 aircraft (of the 21) crossed the median line and its extension, entered our northern, central, and southwestern (air defence identification zone), and joined PLA vessels for joint combat patrol.”
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The military forces of Taiwan “are using our joint surveillance systems to monitor the activities.”
Beijing almost regularly sends airplanes and navy vessels around Taiwan because it does not recognize the median line that splits the Taiwan Strait.
According to experts, it is a type of “grey-zone harassment” that goes beyond an overt act of violence but is yet sufficient to deplete Taipei’s military capabilities.
The record number was set in September when the military of Beijing sent 103 aircraft in a 24-hour period, 40 of which crossed the median line.
Tensions between Beijing and Taipei have increased under Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s two terms in office because she and her government do not recognize China’s claim.
On May 20, her deputy Lai, who was formerly more vocal in favor of Taiwan’s independence but has now softened his stance, will take office.
Beijing threatened to bring about “war and decline” for Taiwan if he was elected.
The display of force on Saturday follows China’s activation of two aviation routes that are near Taiwan’s outer islands, Kinmen and Matsu, the day before, which Taipei denounced as “unilateral measures” that would raise the dangers to flight safety.
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According to Economic Times, The airspace surrounding Fuzhou Changle Airport, which is located 30 kilometers from the nearest outlying Taiwanese island, will be “further optimized and adjusted” on May 16, four days before the inauguration, according to a statement released by China’s aviation administration on Friday.
China “may be trying to show teeth to back up” the widening of the new flight path, political analyst Wen-ti Sung told AFP.
He did, however, note that “China is playing on a grand chessboard” and that the increase in warplane activity might have to do with the situation in the South China Sea.
Joint maritime drills between the US and the Philippines will take place on Monday. According to Sung, the exercises would be “edging ever closer towards Taiwan Strait” and will take place outside of Philippine territorial seas.
Retaking enemy-occupied islands in regions facing Taiwan and the South China Sea is what the drills will model.
“By amping up military theatre near Taiwan, Beijing may seek to deter and dissuade further internationalisation of the Taiwan issue in the security realm,” he stated.
Taiwan’s Institute of National Defense and Security Research conflict expert Ou Sifu concurred that the purpose of Saturday’s events was to convey Beijing’s message outside of Taiwan.
“Until May 20 and beyond,” he said AFP, this “political warfare will continue.”
