| 11 June 2023
Taiwan dispatched fighter jets and deployed naval vessels and land-based missile systems on Sunday in response to the sighting of 10 Chinese warplanes crossing the sensitive median line that separates the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. The island's defense ministry also reported that four Chinese warships conducted combat patrols in the region. This marks the second instance in less than a week of heightened Chinese military activity near Taiwan, following the incursion of 37 Chinese military aircraft into the island's air defense zone, with some flying into the western Pacific.
China, which considers Taiwan as its own territory, has been regularly flying its air force near the island over the past three years. However, these flights have typically remained outside Taiwan's territorial airspace. The recent escalation represents a notable departure as 10 of the Chinese warplanes crossed the median line, which has previously served as an unofficial barrier, despite China's refusal to acknowledge its existence.
According to Taiwan's defense ministry, as of Sunday afternoon, a total of 24 Chinese air force planes, including J-10, J-11, J-16, and Su-30 fighters, as well as H-6 bombers, had been detected. While the ministry did not provide details about the specific flight paths, it confirmed the breach of the median line by 10 aircraft. Concurrently, four Chinese naval ships were involved in "joint combat readiness patrols," as stated by the ministry without further elaboration. China's defense ministry has yet to respond to requests for comment on these recent developments and has remained silent regarding the flights that occurred last Thursday.
China has previously justified such military operations as necessary to safeguard its sovereignty, often citing alleged collusion between Taiwan and the United States, the island's primary international supporter and arms supplier. In April, China conducted military exercises near Taiwan following a visit to the United States by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. The Taiwanese government has consistently rejected China's sovereignty claims and maintains that the island's fate should be determined by its people.
China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, and tensions have been further heightened as Taiwan prepares for presidential and parliamentary elections in January. Taiwan's Vice President William Lai, who is running as the candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, expressed his commitment to preserving the peaceful status quo in the Taiwan Strait during a video address to supporters on Sunday. Lai's visit coincided with Laura Rosenberger, the chair of the American Institute in Taiwan, meeting with all three presidential candidates. The American Institute in Taiwan serves as an intermediary between the United States and Taiwan, given the absence of official diplomatic relations.
As military activities in the Taiwan Strait continue to escalate, the international community closely watches the situation, with concerns growing over the potential for further destabilization and the risk of a conflict between China and Taiwan. The United States, in particular, plays a crucial role as Taiwan's key ally and arms provider, and its response to these developments will undoubtedly shape the evolving dynamics in the region.
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