In a significant display of military
strength since the recent presidential election, Taiwan’s Defence Ministry
reported the detection of more than 20 Chinese warplanes around the self-ruled
island, with 11 crossing a sensitive median line that separates Taiwan from
mainland China.
The Defence Ministry, which regularly
releases data on Chinese military activities near Taiwan, revealed that in the
24 hours leading up to 6 am (2200 GMT), 24 warplanes and 5 ships were detected.
Eleven of these aircraft breached the median line of the Taiwan Strait or
entered Taiwan’s southwest and north air defence identification zone, according
to the Ministry’s statement.
Despite having its own government,
military, and currency, Taiwan is claimed by China as its territory, and
Beijing has never ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its
control.
The recent presidential election, won by
the Democratic Progressive Party’s Lai Ching-te, has heightened tensions. China
views Lai as a “separatist” and had warned before the election that his victory
would lead to “war and decline” for Taiwan.
While China maintains a near-daily
military presence around Taiwan, the immediate aftermath of the election did
not witness an outsized deployment of warplanes or naval vessels.
However, China did secure a diplomatic
victory when Pacific nation Nauru unexpectedly announced a switch in
recognition from Taiwan to China, leaving Taipei with only 12 countries or States
that recognize it.
The largest number of warplanes detected
around Taiwan in a 24-hour period occurred in September when 103 Chinese
aircraft, with 40 crossing the median line, were reported.
This constant presence of Chinese
military assets represents a “grey zone” tactic, strategically stopping short
of outright warfare, according to conflict experts.
