Taiwan observes record number of Chinese military aircraft

Taipei. According to the Taiwan Defense Ministry, a record number of military aircraft from the People’s Liberation Army were discovered near the island republic during Chinese maneuvers around Taiwan. In the 24 hours to Tuesday morning, 91 aircraft and 12 warships were observed.

54 planes crossed the previously respected center line in the Taiwan Strait Straits and entered the Taiwan Air Patrol Zone (ADIZ). Taiwan’s armed forces have been monitoring the situation and have mobilized aircraft, naval vessels and land-based missile systems in response.

In response to Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen’s visit to the United States and her talks with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, China held three days of large-scale maneuvers around the island’s democratic republic until Monday. The number of aircraft used near Taiwan in one day exceeded the previous record of 71. According to official information from Beijing, the exercises served as a warning to the independence forces in Taiwan and foreign interference.

Taiwan’s president criticizes China as irresponsible

Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has criticized China for its large-scale maneuvers as irresponsible. In a video address, Tsai said her travels, like those to the United States, have been a practice for a long time. Representing Taiwan as president and maintaining communication with friends is in line with the expectations of the Taiwanese people. “Yet China is using this to launch military maneuvers, which is causing instability in the Taiwan Strait and the region. This is not a responsible attitude of a big country.”

The President also thanked the Taiwan Armed Forces for their efforts during the People’s Liberation Army’s three-day major maneuvers.

The communist leadership in Beijing regards Taiwan, which has been governed independently for more than 70 years, as part of the People’s Republic and is threatening to conquer it. China is trying to isolate Taiwan internationally. Beijing firmly rejects official contacts from other countries to Taipei. The visit of McCarthy’s predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, to Taiwan in August triggered a similar crisis. In response, China also held the largest military maneuvers since the mid-1990s.