Taiwan says it has spotted 10 Chinese aircraft and five naval vessels across the country

The Chinese Communist Party considers Taiwan its territory. (representative)

Taipei:

According to “Taiwan News”, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said that as of 6 a.m. local time on Saturday, 10 Chinese military aircraft and five naval vessels were spotted around Taiwan in the past 24 hours.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense did not disclose whether Chinese military aircraft entered China’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). As China moves, Taiwan has dispatched aircraft and naval vessels and deployed anti-aircraft missile systems to monitor Chinese activities.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said in a post shared on appropriate troops to respond.”

Since September 2020, China has intensified its use of gray zone tactics by gradually increasing the number of military aircraft and naval vessels operating around Taiwan. Notably, the Chinese Communist Party considers Taiwan its territory, although it has never controlled it.

According to Taiwan News, gray zone tactics are “an effort or series of efforts that go beyond steady-state deterrence and reassurance in an attempt to achieve one’s security objectives without resorting to direct and large-scale use of force.”

This is not the first time China has made such a move. On Friday, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said eight Chinese military aircraft and five naval vessels were spotted operating near Taiwan between 6 a.m. (local time) on Thursday and 6 a.m. (local time) on Friday, Taiwan News reported.

According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, two of the eight PLA aircraft crossed the centerline of the Taiwan Strait in the northeastern part of Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). In addition, a People’s Liberation Army aircraft entered the southwest corner of the air defense identification zone.

In response to China’s actions, Taiwan dispatched aircraft and naval vessels and deployed air defense missile systems to monitor the activities of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Taiwan News reported.

“As of 6 a.m. this morning (UTC+8), 8 PLA aircraft and 5 PLA ships were spotted operating around Taiwan. 3 of the aircraft crossed the center line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the Taiwan Southwest Air Defense Identification Zone. #ROCArmedForces Monitor the situation and take action Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense took appropriate action in X.

According to Taiwan News, on January 30, Taiwan’s special envoy to the UK, Yao Jinxiang, urged the UK and other Western allies to help prevent China’s aggression against Taiwan.

Yao Qingxiang said at a geostrategic committee public group event on January 30 that the UK should continue to express concern for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, oppose any unilateral changes in the status quo, and actively take concrete measures. Taiwan News quoted the Central News Agency (CNA) as reporting that measures to safeguard freedom of navigation in the region.

He emphasized that if the Taiwan Strait faces China’s military blockade, it will have a catastrophic impact on global economic and trade activities and cause significant damage to China. Taiwan’s envoy said it was necessary for Britain and its allies to make it clear to China that it recognized this reality. Yao Qingxiang said that Taiwan hopes to become a force for justice in the world and has the responsibility to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

According to “Taiwan News”, Yao Qingxiang said that Taiwan’s president-elect Lai Ching-te said that in addition to strengthening national defense, he will seek cross-strait dialogue on the basis of dignity and equality. He spoke of China’s unprecedented level of interference in Taiwan’s elections.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)