Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has issued a stern admonition to China, urging it to halt its “disruptive and one-sided actions” following a substantial uptick in Chinese military maneuvers near the island. The defense ministry cautioned that such conduct could exacerbate tensions in the region.
China, which asserts sovereignty over Taiwan, a democratic entity, has regularly conducted military exercises in the vicinity of the island in recent years. These actions are seen as an attempt to reinforce its territorial claims and exert pressure on Taipei.
Taiwan’s defense ministry reported that it had detected 103 Chinese military aircraft over the sea since Sunday, a number it described as a “recent high.” These aircraft were identified between 6 a.m. on Sunday and 6 a.m. on Monday and, in accordance with customary practice, reversed course before entering Taiwanese airspace.
The defense ministry characterized China’s military activities as “harassment” and cautioned that they had the potential to escalate tensions in the already strained environment. In a statement, the ministry implored the Beijing authorities to “bear the responsibility and cease such destructive military actions immediately.”
Taiwan’s graphic representation of Chinese activities over the past 24 hours indicated fighter jets crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which had previously served as an unofficial demarcation between the two sides until China began regularly breaching it a year ago. Other Chinese aircraft were observed traversing south of Taiwan through the Bashi Channel, which separates the island from the Philippines.
The defense ministry’s statement underscored that China’s activities over the past day posed “serious challenges” to security in the Taiwan Strait and the broader region. It emphasized that preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait was a collective responsibility shared by all parties in the region.
As of the time of reporting, China’s Ministry of National Defense had not issued a response.
Taiwan’s defense ministry previously noted that July to September traditionally represents the peak season for Chinese military drills along its coast. In its biennial report earlier this month, Taiwan’s defense ministry revealed that China had bolstered its air power facing Taiwan, with a permanent deployment of new fighter aircraft and drones at expanded airbases.
Last week, China’s government disclosed a “new path toward integrated development” with Taiwan, featuring proposals to facilitate the movement of Taiwanese citizens to live, study, and work in China. Concurrently, it amassed the largest flotilla of warships in years near Taiwan’s eastern waters, a move analyzed by experts as indicative of a choice between peaceful “reunification” and military intervention, just months ahead of Taiwan’s presidential election.
With contributions from Reuters and the Associated Press.
