Taiwan reported a resumption of Chinese military activity near the island on Saturday, a day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to China ended, with 12 aircraft passing through the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait.
The United States is Taiwan’s most important international supporter and arms supplier, despite having no formal diplomatic relations.
Blinken said he stressed the “critical importance” of maintaining peace and stability in the strait during his stay in China.
Democratically ruled Taiwan faces increasing military pressure from China, which considers the island its own territory.
The Taiwanese government rejects these claims.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense announced that it had detected 22 Chinese military aircraft, including Su-30 fighter jets, since 9:30 a.m. local time on Saturday, and 12 of them had crossed the median line into northern and central Taiwan.
The line was once an unofficial border between the two countries, and neither side’s military crossed it, but now the Chinese Air Force regularly sends aircraft to it.
China says it does not recognize the existence of the line.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense said the aircraft was participating in a “joint combat readiness patrol” with Chinese warships, adding that Taiwan’s aircraft and ships responded “appropriately.” Details were not disclosed.
China’s Ministry of Defense did not respond to calls seeking comment outside of working hours on Saturday.
Although Taiwan’s military is well equipped and well trained, it dwarfs China’s military, especially its navy and air force, which respond to Chinese missions almost daily.
China considers Taiwan to be the most important issue in its relations with the United States, and Beijing has repeatedly called on the United States to end arms sales to Taiwan.
Taiwan’s next president, Lai Ching-de, won the general election in January and will take office on May 20th.
Beijing considers him a dangerous separatist and has rejected his repeated calls for dialogue.
Lai said on Thursday that China should have a confident dialogue with Taiwan’s legally elected government.
Like outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen, Lai says only Taiwanese people can decide their future.
