Taiwan urges China to end ‘destructive’ military activities as warplanes cross median line | Taiwan

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry urged China to stop “any destructive and unilateral actions” after reporting a sharp increase in Chinese military activities near the island, warning that such behavior could lead to increased tensions .

China, which considers democratically governed Taiwan its own territory, has regularly conducted military exercises around the island in recent years in a bid to assert its sovereignty claims and put pressure on Taipei.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said that since Sunday it had spotted 103 Chinese military aircraft over the sea, a number it called a “recent record.”

His map of Chinese activities over the past 24 hours showed warplanes crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which served as an unofficial barrier between the two sides until China began crossing it regularly a year ago. year.

Other planes flew over southern Taiwan via the Bashi Channel, which separates the island from the Philippines.

China’s activities over the past day have posed “serious challenges” to cross-Strait and regional security, the ministry said in a statement.

Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are the common responsibility of all parties in the region, the statement added.

“Continued military harassment by the communist army can easily lead to a sharp increase in tensions and worsen regional security,” the ministry said. “We call on the Beijing authorities to take responsibility and immediately end such destructive unilateral actions.”

China’s Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry noted last week that July to September is traditionally the busiest season for Chinese military exercises along the coast.

China is strengthening its air power against Taiwan, with a continued deployment of new fighters and drones at expanded air bases, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said in its biennial report this month.

Last week, the Chinese government unveiled a “new path toward integrated development” with Taiwan, including proposals to make it easier for Taiwanese people to live, study and work in China.

At the same time, it has sent the largest number of warships in years to Taiwan’s eastern waters, which analysts say signals a choice between peaceful “reunification” and military violence, just months before Taiwan’s presidential election.

With Reuters