No 'Median Line' In Taiwan Strait: China Asserts After Sending 103 warplanes around Taiwan (Image:twitter.com/djuric_zlatko)
China dismissed the existence of a “median line” in the Taiwan Strait, after the island country accused China for sending a record number of military aircraft to its borders.
Taiwan”s defence ministry in a 24-hour span detected more than 103 Chinese warplanes, bombers, and 7 navy vessels around its volatile border defense zones, claims the country.
As a result, the safeguarding ministry of the self-rule island called on China”s centre, Beijing, to stop its “provocative actions” and “persistent military harassment”.
“Let me say that Taiwan is part of China’s territory. There is no so-called “median line” in the Taiwan Strait”, CNN quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning responding to the issue.
“First of all, this is not a question about foreign affairs. I suggest you refer to competent Chinese authorities for specifics”, she said addressing the media.
103 PLA aircraft and 9 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected by 6 a.m.(UTC+8) today. R.O.C. Armed Forces have monitored the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond these activities. pic.twitter.com/YjebwioA4v
— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) September 18, 2023
But as Taiwan claims, they have detected, “103 PLA aircraft and 9 PLAN vessels”. According to the flight map provided by Taiwan’s defence ministry, 40 of the 103 Chinese warplanes crossed the “median line” on the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s self-declared air defence identification zone (ADIZ).
The ministry added that it had tasked combat air patrol aircraft, navy vessels and land-based missile systems to respond.
China considers Taiwan as a part of its territory even though they haven”t governed it so far. Taiwan, officially the Republic of China, is an island country in East Asia, and is located at the junction of the East and South China Seas.
Taiwan, a democratically governed country, strongly rejects China”s territorial claims over it. The ruling Communist Party of China has long vowed that the island must be unified with the Chinese mainland.
55 PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected by 6 a.m.(UTC+8) today. R.O.C. Armed Forces have monitored the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond these activities. pic.twitter.com/kXttA8YPFP
— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) September 19, 2023
“Continued harassment by the Chinese military is likely to cause a sharp rise in tensions and deteriorate regional security”, said the Taiwan defense ministry. It also urged the Beijing to “immediately cease such destructive and unilateral behaviour”.
The latest military action from Beijing came days after China decided to impose sanctions on two US defence companies – Lockheed Martin Corporation and Northrop Grumman – for their involvement in arms sales to Taiwan, says reports.
In the press briefing, Mao also warned the United States for supporting Taiwan with military aids.
“We call on the United States to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, stop arms sales to Taiwan, stop military collusion with Taiwan, and stop arming Taiwan, otherwise it will be met with China”s resolute response”, she urged.
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