11 Chinese naval vessels detected around Taiwan, Taipei claims

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
28 Feb 2024 08:29

In the period spanning 24 hours until 6:00 am on Wednesday (local time), Taiwan's defense ministry says China deployed 15 warplanes, 11 naval vessels, and one balloon in the vicinity of the island.

This photo taken on August 22, 2023, shows a Chinese coast guard ship (L) in the South China Sea (AFP/Getty Images)

Taipei's Defense Ministry reported, on Wednesday, the detection of eleven Chinese naval vessels around Taiwan. This comes amid an ongoing dispute between the island and China regarding a fatal fishing boat incident.

Two weeks ago, two Chinese nationals died in a fatal boat incident near Taiwan's Kinmen islands. The boat, which carried four people, capsized on February 14. This occurred as the Taiwanese coastguard was pursuing the vessel, which prompted everyone onboard to jump in the water.

The two remaining survivors were rescued and detained in Kinmen—a territory administered by Taipei but located five kilometers from China's city of Xiamen. One of the survivors said that the boat was deliberately rammed by the Taiwanese coastguard. Taiwan, on its part, said the coastguard was merely complying with orders.

In the period spanning 24 hours until 6:00 am on Wednesday (local time), Taiwan's Defense Ministry reported that China deployed 15 warplanes, 11 naval vessels, and one balloon in the vicinity of the island, according to official sources.

The Ministry further indicated the detection of at least 15 additional Chinese warplanes following this period. The presence of Chinese naval ships exceeded the typical count of four to six observed within a 24-hour timeframe, marking the highest recorded figure thus far this year, as per Taiwan's official records.

In December, Taiwan observed the presence of 11 Chinese naval vessels around the island in the lead-up to its presidential elections in January, ultimately won by Lai Ching-te, a figure Beijing has labeled as a "separatist".

On Monday, a Chinese maritime surveillance ship and four coastguard vessels from China briefly entered "restricted" or "prohibited" waters around Kinmen, as reported by Kuan Bi-ling, the minister of Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council, which oversees the coastguard.

The big picture

Spokesperson for Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office Zhu Fenglian said last Wednesday that China strongly condemned the treatment of mainland fishermen by the Taiwan side, as well as their malicious actions of ignoring life and enforcing the law by force while deliberately concealing the truth.

China strongly denounced Taiwanese authorities for "seeking to evade their responsibilities and hide the truth," the spokesperson said.

"We solemnly demand relevant parties in Taiwan to release the truth as soon as possible," she added.

This comes against the backdrop of rising tensions between China and Taiwan as a result of foreign interference in fueling separatist movements on the island. The US has long claimed that it fully abides by the One China Principle. However, recent provocations by US lawmakers and officials have demonstrated that this is not truly the case.

On February 18, four days after the boat incident had occurred, China Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu announced that regular law enforcement patrols would be conducted in the waters near the Kinmen Islands.

The Coast Guard in Fujian province planned to enhance maritime law enforcement and carry out routine patrols to "safeguard order in the pertinent maritime regions and guarantee the safety of fishing crews' lives and property," as stated by Gan on WeChat.

Beijing warns of Taiwan's US-supported separation attempts

In a related context, Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Chinese State Council, said today that the Taiwanese government's attempts to achieve independence with the help of the United States and new weapons will create military danger in the Taiwan Strait.

Last week, the US Department of State approved a possible sale of communications defense equipment, requested by Taiwan and valued at $75 million.

"Attempts by the government of the Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan to reach independence relying on the US and weapons, can only cause military danger in the region of the Taiwan Strait and put the Taiwanese compatriots into a dangerous position," Zhu told a press conference.

The spokesperson reiterated China's calls for the US to commit to the one-China principle and the terms of the three Chinese-US joint communique, as well as to stop selling weapons to Taiwan,

"We stand strongly against the US selling weapons to the Taiwanese region, this position is consistent and clear," Zhu said.

Earlier in February, the Pentagon said it had signed a contract worth over $68 million with the Raytheon defense-industrial company for the production and delivery of 50 air-to-ground missiles to Taiwan.