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Taiwan says it deployed missile systems to ‘monitor’ 20 Chinese military aircraft in biggest-ever incursion over island Taiwan’s defense ministry claims incursion by 20 Chinese military aircraft as tensions in region rise
(about 2 hours later)
A squadron of 20 Chinese military aircraft flew by Taiwan and into its airspace, the defense ministry said, in the largest-ever incursion into the island nation’s territory, as tensions between Beijing and Taipei heat up. Defense officials in Taiwan have accused China of launching a massive military fly-by through its airspace, including using nuclear-capable bombers. Beijing has not confirmed the allegation.
The ministry said it warned the planes by radio, and deployed its missile systems to “monitor the activity,” after they were picked up in Taiwan’s defense identification zone.
In a statement released on Friday, it said it had “dispatched air patrol troops to respond, broadcast dismissal, and [deployed] anti-aircraft missile tracking and monitoring.” In a statement, the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense said Friday that it had warned the squadron of 20 aircraft by radio and deployed its missile systems to “monitor the activity.” The ministry also released maps that it claimed showed the route the aircraft took through the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines towards the Chinese mainland.
Maps purported to show the group of aircraft flying through the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines towards the Chinese mainland. Four nuclear-capable H-6K bombers, 10 J-16 fighter jets and two Y-8 anti-submarine warfare planes were among the airplanes involved in the mission, according to Taipei.China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, has not yet responded to the allegations.
A spokesperson said four nuclear-capable H-6K bombers, 10 J-16 fighter jets and two Y-8 anti-submarine warfare planes were among the aircraft involved in the mission. Just a day earlier, Taiwanese Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng had said the country was developing long-range missiles capable of striking targets on the Chinese mainland.
China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, has not yet responded to the claims that it launched an offensive close to Taiwan. Tensions between the two have ramped up in recent weeks, fueled by the ongoing involvement of the US in the region.
Tension between the two nations has ramped up in recent weeks, amid other Chinese military activity in the region, including another flight close to Taiwan at the weekend. Earlier on Friday, Washington and Taipei signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a so-called coastguard working group, as US President Joe Biden’s team attempts to increase America’s influence in the disputed South China Sea. The group in question will be tasked with sharing information and enhancing cooperation.
In the face of such actions, Taiwanese Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said on Thursday that the country was developing long-range missiles capable of striking targets on the Chinese mainland. On Thursday, in his first solo press conference, Biden pledged to make China “follow the rules” in relation to Taiwan and other issues. China has repeatedly warned the US against meddling in what it considers are the country’s internal affairs.
Friday’s action also comes after Taiwan suspended all training missions of its F-5E fighter jets, after two of the aircraft collided off its southeast coast, killing one of the pilots, while another remains missing. Beijing has recently passed a law that allows its coastguard to fire on foreign vessels in certain circumstances.
Earlier on Friday, the US and Taiwan established a coastguard working group in response to President Joe Biden’s pledge to make China “follow the rules” in relation to the South China Sea and other issues.
The move follows the recent passage of the Coastguard Law by China, allowing its coastguard to fire on foreign vessels.
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