Taiwan reports China’s largest intrusion into air defense identification zone According to Reuters

By Yimou Lee

TAIPEI (Reuters) – 71 aircraft of China’s air force including fighter jets and drones entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone in the past 24 hours, the island’s government said. learned on Monday, the largest intrusion reported to date.

Of the aircraft, 43 also flew over the median line of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial buffer zone between the two sides within the defensive zone, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said in a report, as North Kinh continues military operations near islands claimed by China.

The White House said the United States was concerned about China’s military activity near Taiwan, which it called “provocative” and “destabilizing”, adding that it risked miscalculation and undermine regional stability.

Taiwan’s official Central News Agency said it was the largest strike by the Chinese air force to date, although there was no sense of alarm on the island, which has seen China’s increasing pressure in recent years.

China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, said it conducted “offensive drills” in the waters and airspace around Taiwan on Sunday in response to what it called an invasion. provocations from the democratically administered island and the United States.

Taiwan strongly opposes China’s sovereignty claims, saying the exercise shows Beijing is undermining regional peace and trying to intimidate the Taiwanese people.

A senior Taiwanese official familiar with regional security planning told Reuters that Taiwan judged China to have staged military “provocations” to express anger over the authorization law. new defense of the United States to increase military support for Taiwan.

One person, who declined to be named because the information was not made public, said that during the exercise, the Chinese air force sent fighter jets from several locations around the country to carry out simulated attacks. on Taiwanese and American warships.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s office said Tsai would convene a high-level national security meeting on Tuesday morning to discuss strengthening the island’s civilian defense system, followed by a press conference on new civil defense measures.

The statement gave no details, but the Defense Ministry said it was considering extending the mandatory military service after four months, as the war in Ukraine and rising tensions with Beijing resumed discussions on the issue. how to deal with China’s military pressure.

“The more prepared we are, the less likely there will be hasty aggressive attempts. The more united we are, the stronger and safer Taiwan will become,” Tsai said. a military ceremony on Monday.

“We (the US) will continue to assist Taiwan in maintaining a self-defense capability consistent with our long-term commitments and in line with our one-China policy,” the National Security Council said. The White House said Monday.

In the latest incursion, several Chinese aircraft, mostly fighter jets, briefly crossed the median line in the sensitive Taiwan Strait before turning back to China, according to a map released by the ministry. Taiwan Defense provided. The ministry said seven Chinese naval vessels were also spotted near Taiwan.

The Chinese military has also sent early warning, electronic warfare and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, as well as drones, into Taiwan’s southern air defense identification zone, or ADIZ, according to the report, during which details China’s activities near Taiwan for the 24 hours to 6 a.m. (2200) GMT on Sunday).

Taipei has complained about repeated missions by the Chinese air force over the past two years, often in areas south of its ADIZ.

Taiwan sent unidentified fighter jets to warn the Chinese planes, while missile systems tracked its flight, the ministry said, using standard wording for its response.

Taiwan’s benchmark stock index removed the latest tensions, ending Monday up 0.1%. However, the China CSI Defense Index marked its best day in two months on Monday, up 3.7%.

China has stepped up diplomatic, military and economic pressure in recent years on the self-ruled island to accept Beijing’s rule. Taiwan’s government says it wants peace but will defend itself if attacked.