Taiwan-China Tensions: Military Maneuvers and Exercises
TAIPEI, Taiwan — China sent navy ships and a large group of warplanes, including fighter jets and bombers, toward Taiwan, over two days, the island’s defense ministry said on Wednesday before its annual military exercises aimed at defending itself against a possible invasion. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army sent 38 warplanes and 9 navy vessels around Taiwan, between 6 a.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday. From Wednesday morning until noon time, the military flew another 30 planes, among which included J-10 and J-16 fighters.
The PLA’s calculated show of strength was not confined to this initial phase alone. As the clock transitioned from Wednesday morning to the approaching noon, an additional 30 planes took to the skies as part of this exercise. Among these, 32 vessels crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial boundary that authorities had considered as a buffer between the island and mainland. Later on Wednesday, another 23 planes crossed the midline. Taiwan is scheduled to hold the annual Han Guang exercise later this month, in which its military will hold combat readiness drills against preventing an invasion. It will also conduct the annual Wan’an exercises aimed at preparing civilians for natural disasters and practicing evacuations in case of an air raid.
China’s Actions and Responses
China claims Taiwan as its territory and increases military planes’ presence in response to political activities in Taiwan. In the past year, it has also started sending its navy vessels, as well as drones to circle the waters near the island. In Tuesday and Wednesday’s maneuvers, the PLA flew H-6 bombers in a large loop to the south of Taiwan, traveling past the island before looping back towards China‘s southern coast. The recent maneuvers on Tuesday and Wednesday further underline China’s strategic approach. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) orchestrated flights of H-6 bombers, a significant part of its aerial arsenal, in a sweeping trajectory to the south of Taiwan.
Its largest military drills in recent years were in response to former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan last August. PLA’s missile launch escalated tensions, disrupted trade lanes, and forced flight reroutes over Taiwan. In April, while in demand, PLA conducted combat drills near Taiwan in response to President Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with the US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. This maneuver was a direct response to the diplomatic developments that unfolded on the international stage. Specifically, President Tsai Ing-wen’s engagement with a significant figure from the United States, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, triggered this response.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/china-sends-large-group-warplanes-navy-ships-towards-101131337
