War Drums Between Two Countries: 70 Military Aircraft, 11 Warships Spotted

An alarming statement has been made on the China-Taiwan line, where tensions have been high in recent years.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense announced that 70 military aircraft and 11 warships belonging to China were detected around the island from yesterday morning to Monday morning.

The ministry said 35 of the 70 aircraft crossed the air and sea lines in the Taiwan Strait, which is supposed to limit the parties’ areas of influence, and flew in the area Taiwan declared the “Air Defense Identification Zone”. “(ADIZ).

In the statement, 8 “SU-30”, 6 “J-10”, 4 “J-11”, 8 “J-16” combat aircraft and armed drones type “TB-001” crossed the nominal “median line”. in Taiwan. Strait, “Y-8 ASW” type maritime patrol aircraft, “Y-9 EW” and “KJ-500” type early warning aircraft, “CH-4” type armed drone and 4 “J-15” combat aircraft from ADIZ He was informed that he was flying towards the southern section.

The flights and boat patrols around the island are believed to be related to the Chinese army’s military exercise launched after Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen’s visits to Central America and the United States.

China’s warplanes were claimed to have breached the border.

CHINA CONTINUES EXERCISE

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Eastern Front Command, which is responsible for the region where Taiwan is located, announced on April 8 that it had begun a joint military exercise involving ground, air, naval and rocket forces around the island.

In the statement, the military exercise dubbed “Joint Sword” will be carried out by the troops controlling rocket batteries attached to the ground forces, warships attached to the navy, land-based anti-ship systems, combat aircraft attached to the air early warning and reconnaissance aircraft and guided missile systems linked to rocket forces.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense announced that 71 military aircraft and 9 ships were observed around the island from April 8, when the exercise began, until the morning of April 9, and 45 sorties were made to the median line and ADIZ. in the Taiwan Strait.

Today, the Chinese military announced that the exercise around Taiwan will continue on Monday.

TSAI HAS ARRIVED IN THE US

Tsai, the leader of Taiwan, which finds itself in a sovereignty conflict with China, had made unofficial visits to the United States for “transit-in-transit” reasons before and after visiting the Central American countries Guatemala and Belize.

The Taiwanese leader attended the meeting hosted by the Hudson Institute in New York City on March 30 and met with the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, and the congressional delegation from all parties. in Simi Valley, California, on April 5.

The Beijing administration announced it would impose sanctions on two organizations and their executives that mediated Tsai’s contacts while protesting against the United States over her visit.

PELOSI’S VISIT CREATED CRISIS

Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in August 2022, the former Speaker of the US House of Representatives, sparked a crisis between Washington and Beijing. While the Chinese military conducted military exercises that created a real blockade around the island after the visit, guided missiles fired from mainland China landed in waters near Taiwan during the exercises using live weapons and ammunition.

After the visit, China increased aircraft and ship patrols around Taiwan and conducted regular flights where it crosses the nominal median line separating the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan, which China defends as part of its territory, has enjoyed de facto independence since 1949, when the People’s Republic of China was founded. The separation that arose after the civil war between mainland China and Taiwan still continues.

Beijing, emphasizing the “One China” principle, opposes Taiwan establishing independent diplomatic relations with the countries of the world, its representation in the United Nations and other international organizations, and stipulates that countries that recognize it must break diplomatic relations with Taiwan. (AA)