China Sends Record 103 Military Planes towards Taiwan,
Island Considers it Harassment
September 17, 2023, 10:00 PM ET
TAIPEI, Taiwan — In a new daily high for the activity that Taiwan considers harassment, China flew a total of 103 military planes towards the island, according to Taiwan’s defense ministry. This unprecedented number of warplanes was detected between 6 a.m. on Sunday and 6 a.m. on Monday. However, as customary, the planes turned back before reaching Taiwan.
China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has been conducting increasingly large military drills in the air and waters around Taiwan. This escalation in tensions has also been fueled by growing friction between China and the United States, with Taiwan being a major recipient of U.S. arms support. The United States strongly opposes any attempt to change Taiwan’s status by force.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry disclosed that 40 of the planes even crossed the symbolic halfway point between mainland China and the island. Additionally, the ministry reported the presence of nine naval vessels in the previous 24 hours. The ministry labeled these Chinese military actions as “harassment” and warned that such activities could further escalate the current tense atmosphere. In a statement, the ministry urged the Beijing authorities to take responsibility and immediately cease such destructive military activities.
These provocative actions by China come shortly after the country sent a flotilla of ships, including the aircraft carrier Shandong, into waters near Taiwan. The drills coincided with the passage of U.S. and Canadian warships through the Taiwan Strait, the waterway that separates the island from the mainland.
In an effort to both entice and warn Taiwan, China also unveiled a plan for an integrated development demonstration zone with Taiwan in China’s nearby Fujian province. Experts believe that this is part of China’s longstanding carrot and stick approach towards Taiwan.
Some analysts speculate that these recent actions by China could be an attempt to influence Taiwan’s upcoming presidential election in January. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party, known for its leaning towards formal independence for the island, is viewed unfavorably by the Chinese government. China, on the other hand, favors opposition candidates who advocate for closer cooperation with the mainland.
Taiwan and China have been separated since 1949 when the communists took control of China during a civil war. The Nationalists, who lost the war, fled to Taiwan and established their own government on the island. Despite being self-governing, Taiwan only receives official diplomatic recognition from a limited number of countries. The United States, among others, maintains formal ties with China while operating a representative office in Taiwan.
___
Find more of AP’s Asia-Pacific coverage at [insert website link]