Taiwan also reported an increased number of incursions by Chinese warplanes last week (Representational)
Taipei:
More than 100 Chinese warplanes and nine naval vessels were detected around Taiwan, authorities in Taipei said on Monday, describing the number as a “recent high”. Beijing claims that Taiwan as its own territory will one day be taken, by force if necessary, and has increased diplomatic and military pressure in recent years as relations deteriorated.
“Between the morning of September 17 and 18, the Ministry of National Defense had detected a total of 103 Chinese aircraft, which was a recent high and posed a serious challenge to security in the Taiwan Strait and the region,” the report said. rack.
Beijing’s “continued military intimidation could easily lead to a sharp spike in tension and a deterioration in regional security,” the ministry said, calling on China to “immediately stop such destructive unilateral actions.”
Of the total number of fighter jets detected, 40 crossed the so-called center line of the Taiwan Strait that separates the island from China and entered the southwestern and southeastern air defense identification zones (ADIZ), the statement said.
Last week, Taipei also reported an increasing number of incursions by Chinese warplanes and ships, after Beijing said its forces were on “high alert” after two ships from the United States and Canada passed through the Taiwan Strait this month.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said 68 Chinese aircraft and 10 naval vessels were detected around the island between Wednesday morning and Thursday morning.
Some of those aircraft and warships were headed to an unspecified area in the western Pacific to “conduct joint naval and air training” with China’s aircraft carrier Shandong, the ministry said.
The Shandong, one of two operational aircraft carriers in China’s fleet, was discovered last week about 60 nautical miles (110 kilometers) southeast of Taiwan en route to the western Pacific Ocean, Taipei authorities said.
Japan’s Defense Ministry also said last week that the navy had discovered six ships – including frigates, destroyers, a fast combat support ship and the Shandong – sailing through waters some 650 kilometers (400 miles) south of Miyakojima island, east of Taiwan.
It also confirmed that fighter jets and helicopters had been detected taking off and landing from the Shandong.
China has not yet officially commented on any exercises being conducted in the Western Pacific.
In April, Beijing conducted military exercises to simulate the island’s encirclement after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with US Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy in California.
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