TAIPEI: Taiwan told China Monday to stop its “destructive unilateral actions” after the former detected more than 100 Chinese warplanes and nine navy ships in areas around the self-ruled island.
This development underscores Beijing’s ongoing territorial claims over Taiwan and its commitment to using force, if deemed necessary, to seize control. Taiwan’s response has been firm, urging China to cease its “destructive unilateral actions” and highlighting the risk of heightened regional tensions.
China has consistently asserted that Taiwan is a part of its territory, a claim that Taiwan vehemently rejects. Recent years have witnessed a surge in Beijing’s diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan, intensifying concerns about regional stability.
Taiwan’s defence ministry labelled the number of Chinese warplanes detected in areas around the island as a “recent high.” It expressed deep concerns about the security implications of this heightened military presence and cautioned that China’s actions could further exacerbate tensions in the Taiwan Strait and the broader region.
Among the warplanes detected, 40 crossed the so-called median line of the Taiwan Strait, entering Taiwan’s southwest and southeast air defence identification zones (ADIZ). This crossing raises concerns about potential airspace violations and the risk of inadvertent incidents.
China’s military activities around Taiwan coincided with the passage of two ships, one belonging to the United States and the other to Canada, through the Taiwan Strait. Beijing responded by declaring its troops to be on “high alert,” further contributing to the atmosphere of tension.
Taiwan’s defence ministry revealed that some of the Chinese aircraft and naval vessels were headed to conduct joint sea and air training with China’s Shandong aircraft carrier in the Western Pacific. Japan also reported the detection of these vessels in the same area.
Analysts suggest that China’s actions may be driven by a desire to counter US influence in the Asia-Pacific region. China has been responding to a series of military drills led by the United States in the area. These exercises appear to be part of China’s broader political strategy to counter the military containment of democratic allies led by the United States.
As the situation continues to evolve, the international community watches closely, hoping for diplomatic efforts to prevail and prevent any escalation of hostilities in this volatile region. The Taiwan Strait remains a flashpoint, where geopolitics and territorial disputes intersect, requiring careful navigation to maintain stability.
