Taiwan says detected 41 Chinese aircraft circling island in 24 hours

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
22 Jun 2024 14:56

Taipei's Defense Ministry says it had detected 41 Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels operating around Taiwan.

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In this photo released by the Taiwan Coast Guard, a Taiwan Coast Guard member monitors a Chinese navy vessel operating near the Pengjia Islet north of Taiwan on Thursday, May 23, 2024. (AP)

Taiwan's Defence Ministry said Saturday it had detected 41 Chinese military aircraft around the island in a 24-hour window, a day after Beijing published judicial guidelines that included the death penalty for "particularly serious" cases of "diehard" supporters of Taiwanese independence.

China claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and has said it would never renounce the use of force to bring it under Beijing's control.

On Saturday, Taipei's Defense Ministry said it had detected 41 Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels operating around Taiwan during the 24-hour period leading up to 6:00 am (2200 GMT).

In a statement, the ministry said that "32 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait," referring to a line bisecting the 180-kilometre (110-mile) waterway that separates Taiwan from China.

The ministry added that it had "monitored the situation and responded accordingly".

On May 25, Taiwan detected 62 Chinese military aircraft around the island in a 24-hour window, the highest single-day total this year, as China staged military drills following the inauguration of Lai, who Beijing regards as a "dangerous separatist".

Taiwan reports daily drills of Chinese warplanes and warships in the area, as Beijing continues asserting its sovereignty over the island.

This comes a few days after the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency confirmed the State Department's possible sale of $360 million worth of drones and missiles to Taiwan.

The agency said the sale "will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region."

It added that Switchblade 300 anti-personnel and anti-armor loitering munitions are included in the sale for an estimated cost of $60.2 million, and ALTIUS 600M-V drones and related equipment for an estimated cost of $300 million.

Taiwan's Defense Ministry said that "in the face of the Chinese communists' frequent military operations around Taiwan, these US-agreed-to arms sales items will have the ability to detect and strike in real-time, and can respond quickly to enemy threats."

In recent years, Taiwan has complained that China has been engaging in so-called grey zone warfare, which aims to exhaust an opponent without resorting to open combat.

Beijing strongly opposes the United States' arms sales to Taiwan, criticizing Washington for aiding what it perceives as efforts to promote "Taiwan independence" through military strengthening. China also resolutely opposes the US interference in Taiwan affairs in any way or under any pretext.