Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said 153 aircraft were detected around its territory as China conducted extensive military drills that jolted regional unease.
In a statement, the ministry said that the surge in military activity brought the total number of aircraft detected within a 25-hour period leading up to 6 a.m. Tuesday to a new high. The drills included mobilizing fighter jets, drones, warships, and coast guard vessels encircling Taiwan. Taipei replied with “appropriate forces” and raised alert levels for its outlying islands. Of the 153 noted aircraft, 90 were identified to enter Taiwan’s air defense identification zone.
China views Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out force as a means of reunification. China referred to the recent military drills as “Joint Sword-2024B” and said the actions were intended as a warning against what it refers to as “separatist acts” after a speech last week by Taiwan President William Lai Ching-te, which China condemned.
China has no right to represent Taiwan in any way, under any name, regardless of the occasion,” Lai said in a speech on Tuesday. He promised to resist any annexation by China. The Taiwan Affairs Office for China denounced Lai’s comments as “fabrications of ‘Taiwan independence’ nonsense.”
Taiwan’s Premier Cho Jung-tai said these military exercises concern Taiwan and the entire region. He added, “Any drills without prior warning will cause great disturbance to peace and stability in the entire region,” emphasizing that such actions could impact international navigational rights and airspace.
Taiwan’s Office of the President called on China to stop its military provocations that jeopardize regional peace and stability, requiring it to cease its provocative actions against Taiwan’s democracy and freedom.
The United States, a very important ally of Taiwan, expressed concerns over the situation while conducting military exercises in the South China Sea, which is itself a theatre of disputes. The Pentagon described the China drills as “irresponsible, disproportionate, and destabilizing.”
Meanwhile, several thousand U.S. and Philippine marines started ten days of joint exercises in the Philippines, which also has territorial spats with China. The exercises are mainly centered around the northern coast of Luzon, some 800 km (500 miles) from Taiwan.
