Taipei Reports Chinese Military Activity Near Taiwan

By Staff, Agencies

Taiwan’s defense ministry has reported Chinese military activity near the self-ruled island, warning of a possible “sharp increase” in tensions.

The ministry claimed that it spotted 12 Chinese military aircraft in its air defense identification zone on Tuesday morning, adding that seven of them, including six J-10 fighters and a single drone, crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait.

According to the statement, five Chinese ships also conducted “combat readiness patrols”. The ministry, however, has not given a location.

“The continued military harassment by the Communist military in the region may lead to a sharp increase in tensions and worsen regional security,” the ministry said, adding Beijing should “immediately stop such unilateral acts.”

Beijing regards the island as part of its own territory under the “One-China” principle.

Under the internationally recognized policy, nearly all countries recognize Beijing’s sovereignty over the island, including the United States.

However, in violation of its own stated policy and in an attempt to irritate Beijing, Washington continues to court the secessionist government in Taipei, supporting its anti-China stance and supplying it with massive caches of armaments.

China often conducts military drills around the island as a warning to Taiwan’s separatist forces and their collusion with the US.

Washington’s support for Taiwan is seen as an attempt to undermine its main rival Beijing, as is the case with Ukraine.

Moscow has noted that the US military support for Kiev to fight Russia aims to weaken and destroy the country.