Taiwan detects dozens of Chinese aircraft near island after UK ship patrol

Taipei says an estimated 15 Chinese craft crossed the median enactment of the Taiwan Strait connected Friday.

Taiwan‘s defence ministry says that it has detected much than 70 Chinese subject craft astir the land successful the past 24 hours, conscionable days aft a British naval vas sailed done the delicate Taiwan Strait.

The latest sightings reported connected Friday travel arsenic Beijing continues to ramp up the deployment of combatant jets and naval vessels astir Taiwan successful caller months to property its assertion of sovereignty of the island, which Taipei rejects.

Along with 50 aircraft, six Chinese naval vessels were detected successful the 24 hours to 6am connected Friday (22:00 GMT connected Thursday), the defence ministry said.

An further 24 Chinese aircraft, including fighters and drones, were spotted since 08:50am (00:50 GMT) connected Friday, the ministry said successful a abstracted statement.

Among the 2nd batch of aircraft, 15 crossed the median enactment of the Taiwan Strait successful conducting air-sea associated grooming with Chinese naval vessels, the ministry said, adding it “monitored the concern and responded accordingly”.

China insists that democratic, self-ruled Taiwan is portion of its territory and has threatened to usage unit to bring the land nether its control. Taiwan has allied itself with the United States, angering Beijing.

The latest incursions came aft the British Royal Navy patrol vas HMS Spey sailed done the Taiwan Strait connected June 18, Taiwan’s overseas ministry said connected Thursday.

China powerfully condemned Britain’s latest determination arsenic a deliberate effort to “cause trouble”.

Britain’s Royal Navy said the patrol vas conducted a regular navigation done the constrictive waterway that was portion of a long-planned deployment and took spot successful afloat compliance with planetary law.

The Eastern Theatre Command of China’s People’s Liberation Army said the Wednesday sailing of the vessel was “public hyping” and that its forces followed and monitored the Spey.

The UK, United States and different countries presumption the 180km (112-mile) Taiwan Strait arsenic planetary waters that should beryllium unfastened to each vessels.

In February, a Canadian warship besides passed done the Strait, days aft a US destroyer and a US water survey vessel made the passage.

The past clip a British Navy vessel transited the Taiwan Strait was successful 2021, erstwhile the HMS Richmond, a frigate deployed with Britain’s craft bearer onslaught group, sailed done from Japan to Vietnam.

In April, Taiwan detected 76 Chinese craft and 15 naval vessels astir the island, erstwhile Beijing conducted live-fire exercises that included simulated strikes aimed astatine the island’s cardinal ports and vigor sites.

The highest fig of Chinese craft recorded was 153 connected October 15, 2024, aft China staged large-scale subject drills successful effect to a code by Taiwan’s President William Lai Ching-te connected National Day, days earlier.

Source:

Al Jazeera and quality agencies