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TAIPEI: Taiwan Will Not “Give An Inch” To Defend Itself, President Tsai Ing-wen Warned On Tuesday (Oct 6), As New Figures Revealed The Island Is Fighting Fighter Jets At More Than Double The Year Rate passed in response to the Chinese. raids.
China views democratic Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to take it one day, by force if necessary.
Taipei fighters have taken to the skies to protect themselves from Chinese fighter jets more than 4,100 times so far this year, making about 22 sorties a day on average, according to the military, 129 percent more than in all. 2019.
LEE: Taiwan says military under pressure from China as missions increase
Warships have been dispatched more than 7,500 times, compared to fewer than 6,000 over the whole of last year, according to a Defense Ministry report submitted to parliament.
“In the face of intimidation and saber rattling from the Chinese communists … we should demonstrate our belief in not giving up an inch of our territory and sovereignty,” President Tsai said Tuesday while inspecting an air force base.
In recent months, Beijing has increased the military pressure even more than usual, increasing the number of ships, bombers and fighter jets that buzz or send to the defense zones of Taiwan.
Analysts say the tactic is aimed at demoralizing Taiwan and keeping its aging team under pressure.
READ: With the help of the EU, Taiwan wins a rare victory in the dispute over the name of China
“Since this year, Chinese communist forces have been frequently engaging in military actions and provocations directed at us … to pose more serious challenges to our defense and national security,” the military report to parliament said.
Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang said “constant harassment” by Chinese military planes and ships had “increased the burden” for Taiwan.
Local media estimated that fighter jet sorties this year had cost at least NT $ 4.1 billion (US $ 137 million).
Beijing’s bellicose stance towards Taiwan has increased during the term of President Xi Jinping.
It is also a response to the election of Tsai, who, like a growing number of Taiwanese, rejects the idea that the island is part of “one China.”
Washington’s broader reach to Taiwan under President Donald Trump has become another flash point with Beijing as US-China relations tumble to record lows.
The United States diplomatically recognizes Beijing, but remains Taiwan’s most important ally and is obligated by Congress to provide the island with defensive weapons.
