As the conflict between China and Taiwan heats up, six Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels were detected by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence over Taiwanese skies and waters on both September 21 and 22.
Three out of the six People’s Liberation Army (PLA) jets entered the northern and central areas of the country’s air defence identification zone after it crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwanese Government confirmed the Chinese encroachment on platform X saying, “6 PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 3 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s central ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.”
In response, coastal-based missile systems, aircraft and naval vessels were dispatched by Taiwan to monitor the situation before it escalated into a war.
The developments take place amidst increasing military provocations by Beijing against Taiwan. As part of its gray zone tactics, China has intensified air and naval incursions coupled with military operations into the island country, which it claims to be a part of the Chinese mainland. Chinese President Xi Jinping’s PLA’s increasing muscle-flexing around Taiwan involves regular live-fire military drills to intimidate Taiwan.
Remember China considers Taiwan a breakaway province which it attempts to reunify with the Chinese mainland, if necessary by force.
As the Taiwan-China conflict reaches a tipping point, the United States has also stepped up support for the island nation. U.S. Republican senators introduced a strategic act and legislative package on September 19, consisting of critical initiatives to counter the aggressive stance of the Communist Party of China (CCP) and bolster American support for Taiwan. The bill aims to push back against China’s increasing global influence and secure the interests of U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific region including India, Japan and Australia. The bill will invite the formation of a ‘tiger team’ which will identify export controls, targets for sanctions and other economic measures before China even tries to take military action against the island state. Another provision will involve treating the democratically elected government of Taiwan as the legitimate representative of the people of Taiwan.
