China brings fighter jets and bombers to Taiwan border after official US visit

Fighters. Bombers. Flying missiles. China has sent more than 20 planes to cross its borders with Taiwan in recent days. Now, the president of Taiwan is warning of a “clear and present danger” for the entire region.

Late last week, a US official visited Taiwan to attend the funeral of a former president and speak with his democratically elected administration.

Beijing responded by sending fighter jets across the “middle line,” the intermediate point between the island of Taiwan and mainland China.

Meanwhile, both China’s carriers were also at sea participating in an extensive series of live-fire exercises in northern and southern Taiwan.

“Every time a high-ranking US official visits Taiwan, PLA fighter jets should be one step closer to the island,” warns an editorial in the Chinese Communist Party newspaper Global Times.

“The United States and Taiwan must not misjudge the situation or believe that the exercise is a hoax. If they continue to provoke, war will inevitably break out.”

Another Global Times editorial stated that the drills were “realistically combat oriented and a rehearsal for a Taiwan takeover.”

“Twelve J-16 fighters, two J-10 fighters, two J-11 fighters, two H-6 bombers and one Y-8 ASW crossed the mid-line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the ADIZ (identification zone) southwest of Taiwan, “the Taiwan defense ministry tweeted on Saturday.

In response, Taiwan “scrambled the fighters and deployed air defense missile systems to monitor activities.”

This was only the second day in a series of repeated violations by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

And there are disturbing signs that this is just the beginning of new escalations.

Yesterday, the PLA declared to the Chinese media that “there is no median line of the Taiwan Strait within the territory of PR China.”

This unravels seven decades of shaky truce between the two nations.

Chinese state propaganda has been broadcasting the event, with their Wolf Warriors social media in the message. A Twitter account belonging to Eva Zheng (who calls herself an independent Chinese citizen, even though some Chinese citizens have been arrested simply for posting on Twitter), uploaded a government graphic detailing the raids.

Others, such as the Chinese ambassador to ASEAN, declared: “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China and we will not allow any foreign power to interfere in China’s internal affairs. Those who play with fire will burn!”

PLA Air Force Senior Colonel Zhang Chunhui said in a statement that the military maneuvers were “necessary” to counter Taiwanese “separatist” acts. “Such actions are necessary steps to address the current situation in the Taiwan Strait and will help enhance the ability of theater troops to defend national unity and territorial sovereignty.”

Meanwhile, Taipei is trying to capitalize on Beijing’s belligerence by warning Southeast Asian nations that China has revealed its true nature.

“I believe that these activities do not help the international image of China and, what is more, they have put the Taiwanese people even more on guard, understanding even better the true nature of the Chinese communist regime,” President Tsai Ing said on Sunday. -wen.

“In addition, other countries in the region also have a better understanding of the threat posed by China.”

Fight for independence

US Undersecretary of State Keith Krach was visiting Taiwan to commemorate the passing of former President Lee Ten-hui. It was he who led the island of 20 million people to democracy. The dictatorial administration of the Republic of China (ROC) had fled to the protectorate, placed under Chinese administration after World War II, after the Communist Party took control of the continent in 1949.

Both events were particularly irritating to Beijing President for Life Xi Jinping, who has recently been pushing a tough line for “reunification,” even though Taiwan never surrendered to communist revolution. This was a point emphasized by Lee, who strove to establish Taiwan as his own independent identity on the world stage.

Serving President Tsai praised Lee for achieving a peaceful transition from autocracy to democracy.

“We have a responsibility to continue their efforts, allowing the will of the people to reshape Taiwan, further defining the identity of Taiwan, and deepening and strengthening democracy and freedom,” Tsai said during the ceremony.

The US undersecretary is the second senior official to visit Taipei in recent months. He had dinner with the president, at the same time that he met with the Minister of Economic Affairs and held business talks with business leaders.

“This kind of behavior interferes with China’s internal affairs, hurts the feelings of the Chinese people, and violates the norms of international relations,” China’s State Council spokesman Ma Xiaoguang said yesterday.

But the United States took a different point of view.

“We have had unofficial and constructive relations with Taiwan for 40 years,” said a Pentagon spokesman in response to the air raids. “The aggressive and destabilizing reactions of the PLA reflect a continuing attempt to alter the status quo and rewrite history.”

“This is yet another example of how the People’s Republic of China increasingly uses its armed forces as a tool of coercion with Taiwan and other neighbors. Taiwan’s security, and the ability of its people to determine its future, free from coercion, remains a vital interest to the United States and is integral to regional security. “