The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense revealed today that an unprecedented number of 103 Chinese warplanes had been detected flying around the island within a span of 24 hours. This recent military activity by Beijing comes amidst a spike in regional tensions.
Rapid Surge in Aerial Activities
Describing the frequency of the aerial incursions as “the highest in recent times,” the Taiwanese Ministry urged China to cease its “destructive and unilateral behavior.” The heightened Chinese military activity near Taiwan has been seen as a means to increase pressure on the island.
Taiwan further emphasized that Beijing’s continuous military harassment “could easily lead to a significant escalation in tensions and a deterioration of regional security.” The island nation called on China to immediately stop such “unilateral destabilizing acts.”
Out of the total warplanes detected, 40 of them reportedly crossed what’s referred to as the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which separates Taiwan from mainland China.
These aircraft entered two of Taiwan’s southwestern and southeastern air defense identification zones. Alongside this, nine vessels belonging to the Chinese navy were also identified. Additional flights were noted south of Taiwan, passing through the Bashi Channel, which separates Taiwan from the Philippines.
Historical Context and Recent Strains
Since 2016, relations between Beijing and Taipei have soured, particularly after Tsai Ing-wen, who supports Taiwan’s independence, assumed the presidency in Taiwan. Beijing claims self-governing Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to ensure its eventual unification. The recent years have witnessed an intensification of China’s diplomatic and military pressures on the island.
Pacific Maneuvers?
Only last week, Taiwan detected an increasing number of intrusions by Chinese aircraft and warships. These observations followed China’s announcement that its forces were on “high alert” after US and Canadian military ships passed through the Taiwan Strait.
In the past weeks, Taiwan reported sighting a Chinese aircraft carrier along with 39 fighter jets within its vicinity. Moreover, on the 14th, Taiwan affirmed China dispatched a total of 68 warplanes and 10 naval vessels to the skies and waters surrounding the island in a single day. Some of these crafts were reportedly headed to an unspecified region in the western Pacific for “joint naval and aerial maneuvers” with China’s “Shandong” aircraft carrier.
Last week, Taiwanese authorities noted the “Shandong”, one of the two aircraft carriers operated by the Chinese navy, was spotted around 110 km southeast of the island, en route to the western Pacific.
Recent activities have also seen 28 Chinese warplanes near Taiwan’s coast, most of which crossed the central line dividing the strait.
China’s activities have ignited tensions not just with Taiwan, but also other regional nations, including the Philippines and Japan. The Japanese Defense Ministry, just last week, identified six Chinese ships, including the aircraft carrier “Shandong”, frigates, and destroyers, sailing 650 km south of the MiyaKojima island, east of Taiwan.
As the tensions rise, Beijing has yet to make any official remarks regarding its maneuvers in the western Pacific. China had previously conducted large-scale military drills in April, which included simulating a blockade of Taiwan, following President Tsai Ing-wen’s visit to the United States.
