Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense said that 8 bombers and 5 Chinese fighter jets entered the southwestern corner of the Taiwanese air defense zone, on Saturday.
read more
It indicated that the Taiwan Air Force had deployed missiles for “incursion control.”
A map provided by the ministry showed that Chinese aircraft flew between the southern part of Taiwan and the Taiwan-controlled Bratas Islands in the South China Sea, although they are still very far from Taiwan.
On Monday, China said that US officials involved in “reprehensible” behavior toward Taiwan would face sanctions, after Washington lifted restrictions on communication between US and Taiwanese officials.
Relations between Washington and Beijing deteriorated with China denouncing that decision to lift restrictions, which was taken by Washington this month, and announced by US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, in the final days of the administration of former President Donald Trump.
Chinese anger increased when the US ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, spoke with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, after canceling a scheduled visit to Taiwan, the capital of Taiwan.
Beijing says that Taiwan, which China considers an integral part of its territory, is the most important and sensitive issue in its relationship with the United States, and it had previously announced sanctions against American companies that sold weapons to Taiwan, but it did not explain how these sanctions will be implemented, or what If it was activated.
China has responded to the increased US support for Taiwan, which includes arms sales and visits by senior US officials to the island, and has responded by increasing military activity near Taiwan, including overflights of Chinese Air Force planes in the vicinity.
Source: Reuters
Source link