TAIPEI, Taiwan: Taiwan’s defence ministry reported on Friday that 36 Chinese military aircraft were detected around the island within the previous 24 hours.
Twenty-six more aircraft, comprising fighters, transports, and drones, were subsequently found after 6:55 a.m. (2255 GMT) on Friday.
China, which asserts that Taiwan is a part of its territory, has put more military force on the independent island nation.
China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has increased its military pressure on the self-ruled island. Beijing has stated it will never renounce the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control. The recent surge in military activity follows the inauguration of Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te on May 20, whom Beijing views as a “dangerous separatist.”
Earlier drills saw China deploy 62 military aircraft and 27 naval vessels around Taiwan, marking the highest single-day total of military incursions this year. Taiwan’s defence ministry confirmed it had monitored the situation and responded accordingly.
Additionally, the latest military movements came after the Chinese coast guard seized a Taiwanese boat for alleged illegal fishing near Quanzhou and close to Taiwan’s Kinmen islands. Taipei insisted that the boat be released right away, claiming it was in a traditional fishing area.
The ongoing military activities and diplomatic tensions highlight the volatile relationship between China and Taiwan, with the latter continually monitoring and responding to incursions to ensure its territorial integrity.
