TAIPEI: Taipei’s Ministry of Defense has claimed it has detected around 21 Chinese military aircraft around the island since 8:15 am on Saturday. The Ministry of Defense said in a statement via social media that its troops “are monitoring the activities with our joint surveillance systems, and have also dispatched appropriate assets to reply accordingly.”
China does not recognize the line as it says democratic Taiwan as part of its territory. The Defense Ministry said that the 21 aerial objects detected today included J-16 fighter jets and Y-8 medium-range transport aircraft and drones.
Under the administration of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, tensions between China and Taiwan have ramped up, as her government do not acknowledge Beijing’s claim. Her deputy, Vice President Lai, won polls in January despite warnings from China that he would be the cause of “conflict and decline” for Taiwan. Beijing regards Lai as a “dangerous separatist,” though he has moderated his opinion in recent years.
