Taipei detects 62 Chinese aircraft as US ships transit waters

China Taiwan - In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, a J-15 Chinese fighter jet takes off from the Shandong aircraft carrier during the combat readiness patrol and military exercises around the Taiwan Island by the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on, April 9, 2023. China’s local maritime authorities have issued a warning for possible rocket debris in waters northeast of Taiwan, saying ships would be banned from entering the area on April 16. The announcement comes after China held large-scale military drills that formally ended Monday in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's transit visit last week to the United States. (An Ni/Xinhua via AP, File) — China has ramped up military pressure on Taiwan to accept its sovereignty claims recently. (Xinhua/AP pic)

TAIPEI:

Taiwan said today it detected 62 Chinese military aircraft near the self-ruled island this week, as two US ships sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait.

The US and its allies regularly transit the 180km Taiwan Strait to reinforce its status as an international waterway, angering Beijing.

Beijing has never ruled Taiwan, but it claims the democratic island as part of its territory and has threatened to bring it under its control by force.

Taipei said the US ships travelled from north to south “starting from Feb 10”.

China’s People’s Liberation Army said today it had monitored the passage of the US destroyer and the ocean survey ship.

“This US action sent the wrong signal and increased security risks,” Li Xi, a senior colonel and spokesman for China’s eastern theatre command, said in a statement.

Taiwan’s defence ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang dismissed the criticism and said Taipei supported the freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait.

“Regarding the situation around the Taiwan Strait, there is no need for me to elaborate further on who is the so-called troublemaker,” he told reporters today.

“All neighbouring countries should have a very deep understanding of this”.

Washington’s latest passage through the Taiwan Strait was the first time since US President Donald Trump took office in January.

It came after Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Friday they “opposed any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo (in the Taiwan Strait) by force or coercion”.

Data published by the Taiwan defence ministry showed 62 Chinese military aircraft were detected near the island in the 48 hours to 6am local time today, coinciding with the US ships’ transit.

“We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly,” the ministry said in a statement.

Taiwan is a potential flashpoint for a war between China and the US, which is the island’s most important backer and biggest arms supplier.

In recent years, Beijing has ramped up political and military pressure on Taipei to accept its sovereignty claims, and staged multiple rounds of large-scale war games since President Lai Ching-te took office in May.

A record 153 aircraft were reported on Oct 15 after China staged large-scale military drills in response to Lai’s national day speech days earlier.

A week after China’s drills, a US and a Canadian warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait separating the island and China.

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Taipei detects 62 Chinese aircraft as US ships transit waters

Washington regularly passes through the 180km Taiwan Strait to reinforce its status as an international waterway.