China engaged in considerable military operations near Taiwan between Saturday and Sunday between 6 a.m., according to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND). Twelve naval ships and 36 military planes from China were seen cruising the area around Taiwan during this time. 31 of them penetrated Taiwan’s Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ), which is divided into the northern, central, southwestern, south eastern, and eastern sectors, and passed the Taiwan Strait’s median line. To watch and react to China’s moves, Taiwan sent out planes, naval vessels, and missile systems located on the coast.
With 36 Chinese naval boats and 71 PLA aircraft observed in August, Taiwan’s MND has confirmed an increase in Chinese military activities. China’s “grey zone tactics,” or military manoeuvres intended to establish dominance and accomplish strategic objectives without resorting to open warfare, have been intensified since September 2020. These strategies include holding military drills close to Taiwan and repeatedly invading Taiwan’s Area of Defence Interest (ADIZ) via air and sea. Taiwan has been administered autonomously since 1949, yet there are still issues between the two countries because China continues to claim sovereignty over the island.
There is a long history of animosity between China and Taiwan.
More so, China has declared that it will use force if necessary to bring Taiwan back to the Chinese mainland. In closing, the paper reports that on Saturday morning, 18 aircraft and 13 naval vessels were observed in the vicinity of the Taiwan Strait, indicating an increase in PLA activity. Of them, eleven entered Taiwan’s southern Area of Defence Zone. Experts in the military perceive these moves as a component of China’s larger plan to progressively weaken Taiwan’s sense of Security and test its defences by normalizing its military presence close to the island.
Also, the frequent intrusions by China into Taiwan’s ADIZ, according to Bonnie S. Glaser, senior advisor for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, are intended to “wear down Taiwan’s air force” and obtain information about Taiwan’s response systems. Other nations may decide not to support Taiwan as a result of this constant pressure since they perceive the situation as becoming more unstable. There is a long history of animosity between China and Taiwan. The Communist Party founded the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on the mainland in 1949, while the Nationalist government, which had been defeated, withdrew to Taiwan in the wake of the Chinese Civil War.
The island nation stands ready to defend itself from any kind of assault.
Furthermore, Taiwan has never formally proclaimed independence, but it has since functioned as a distinct nation with its own armed forces and administration. China has repeatedly pledged to use force if necessary to bring Taiwan back together with the mainland, viewing it as a province that broke away. Taiwan’s military has taken up a posture of close observation and readiness in reaction to the PLA’s invasions. Taiwan used missile systems, navy ships, and combat air patrols to track and counter Chinese ships and planes, according to the MND.
According to Taiwan’s Minister of Defence, Chiu Kuo-cheng, the island nation is dedicated to preserving Peace but stands ready to defend itself from any kind of assault. He made it clear that the military of Taiwan will react to any provocative actions with proportionate force. Chinese officials have defended their course of action by arguing that it was imperative to preserve national sovereignty. The PLA’s operations are legitimate as defensive reactions to “foreign interference,” especially from the United States and its allies, according to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has consistently asserted that Taiwan is an intrinsic part of China.
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However, the government of Taiwan has denounced these acts, calling them provocative and unstable. Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, has appealed to democratic nations to unite with Taiwan in defence of common principles in order to stave against China’s military pressure. Different responses have been received from throughout the world. Australia and Japan, for example, have expressed alarm about the rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait. In order to counter China’s military actions, the US has carried out freedom of navigation operations in the area and has boosted weaponry deliveries to Taiwan in order to strengthen that country’s defences.