Taiwan’s defense ministry said on Monday that China’s military had sent 71 planes and seven ships to Taiwan over a 24-hour period after China expressed anger over Taiwan-related provisions in the US’ annual defense bill. Announced.
China’s military harassment of Taiwan, which it claims is its own territory, has intensified in recent years, with the Communist Party’s People’s Liberation Army sending planes and ships toward the island on an almost daily basis.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense, 47 Chinese planes crossed the Taiwan Strait median between 6 a.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday.
Taiwan scrambles jets and prepares missile defenses to keep Chinese warships near island, defense ministry says
An undated file photo released by Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense shows a Chinese People’s Liberation Army J-16 fighter jet flying over an undisclosed location. On December 26, 2022, Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense announced that the Chinese military would send 71 aircraft, including her J16 fighter jets, and seven of her ships to Taiwan after China expressed anger over Taiwan-related regulations. announced that she was dispatched to Taiwan for 24 hours. in the US annual defense spending bill passed on Saturday.
(Taiwan Ministry of Defense via Associated Press)
The aircraft China sent to Taiwan included 18 J-16 fighters, 11 J-1 fighters, 6 Su-30 fighters, and drones.
China estimates 250 million infected with COVID-19 since ‘zero COVID’ policy ended: report
Taiwan said it monitors China’s movements not only through its own naval vessels, but also through land-based missile systems.
Taiwan has been conducting military exercises to demonstrate its ability to resist Chinese pressure to accept Beijing’s political control over the island.
(AP Photo/Johnson Lai)
“This is a firm response to the current US-Taiwan escalation and provocation,” said Shi Yi, a spokesman for the People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command, in a statement Sunday evening. It announced that the People’s Liberation Army is conducting joint combat patrols and joint strike exercises in the waters surrounding Taiwan.
Shi was referring to the US defense budget bill calling China a strategic issue. Regarding the Indo-Pacific region, the law authorizes enhanced security cooperation with Taiwan and calls for increased cooperation with India on new defense technologies, preparedness and logistics.
China seeks to overtake US in Africa as Somalia faces terrorism, drought and famine
In Washington, a senior White House National Security Council official said China’s military activities near Taiwan were “destabilizing, risking miscalculation and undermining regional peace and stability.” .
A member of the People’s Liberation Army looks through binoculars as the Taiwanese frigate Lanyang is seen in the rear during a military exercise Friday, August 5, 2022.
(via Lin Jian/Xinhua Associated Press)
Commenting on condition of anonymity, the official said: It is in line with our longstanding commitment and consistent with our One China policy. ”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
China’s military often conducts large-scale military exercises as a use of force in response to Washington’s actions in support of Taiwan.
In response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, a large-scale live-fire military exercise was held in August. Beijing views visits to the islands by foreign governments as a de facto acknowledgment of the islands’ independence and as a challenge to China’s sovereignty claims.
