8 ships, 23 planes deployed by Chinese PLA near Taiwan

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
28 Aug 2022 19:08

This move comes ahead of recent high alerts issued after US Navy cruisers were spotted passing through the Taiwan Strait.

China deployed 8 Ships, and 23 Planes near Taiwan

Eight ships of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), as well as 23 planes, have been detected near Taiwan, Taipei said on Sunday.

"8 PLAN vessels and 23 PLA [People's Liberation Army] aircraft around our surrounding region were detected today (August 28, 2022) until 1700(GMT+8). #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded to these activities with aircraft in CAP [combat air patrol], naval vessels, and land-based missile systems," it tweeted.

Ten aircraft had crossed the so-called "median line" of the Taiwan Strait, which serves as an unofficial maritime border between the island and mainland China, according to Taipei's statement.

"10 of the detected aircraft (SU-30, J-10*2, J-11*3, J-16*2, Y-8 ASW and WZ-10 Attack) had flown on the east part of the median line of the Taiwan Strait and our SW ADIZ, flight paths as illustrated," it stated.

This move comes ahead of recent high alerts issued after US Navy cruisers were spotted passing through the Taiwan Strait.

The recent visit of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, which Beijing considers to be part of the People's Republic of China, has strained US-Chinese relations.

The visit was followed by another US delegation led by US Senator Edward J. Markey on August 14 and the visit of Eric Holcomb, the governor of the US state of Indiana, on August 21, triggering yet another wave of China's military maneuvers near the island.

Marsha Blackburn, a Republican senator from Tennessee, arrived in Taiwan on Thursday for a three-day visit.

Beijing regards Taiwan as its sovereign territory and promises that it will eventually be reintegrated with the mainland under the "one country, two systems" model. Taiwan has been governed independently since breaking away from mainland China in 1949.

Although the US officially claims to support the One China Policy, it has long maintained unofficial relations with Taipei, including the supply of arms to the island.

China carried out fresh military drills around Taiwan, Beijing said, days after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's provocative visit to the island, which escalated tensions between the two powers.

Pelosi's visit led China to announce ending cooperation with the United States on several issues, such as climate change, anti-drug efforts, and military talks.

China announced new military maneuvers surrounding Taiwan in response to another visit to the island by a team of US politicians who met with Taipei's leader only weeks after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's provocative trip.

The secret two-day visit came as Beijing launched warships, missiles, and fighter jets into the waters and skies surrounding Taiwan.