China sends 150 military flights over Taiwan, threatens Australia
Over four dozen Chinese military aircraft flew into Taiwan’s
air defense zone on Monday, in the latest round in a weekend of provocation
that has seen nearly 150 sorties since Friday as state media issued threats to
Australia.
Starting Friday, according to the Taiwan Ministry of
Defense, China’s People’s Liberation Army flew 38 aircraft near southwest
Taiwan. The country flew 39 more planes on Saturday and 16 the next day.
The US State Department released a statement warning China
on Sunday against the “provocative military activity,” calling it
“destabilizing.”
“The United States is very concerned by the People’s
Republic of China’s provocative military activity near Taiwan, which is
destabilizing, risks miscalculations, and undermines regional peace and
stability,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement. “We urge
Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure and coercion
against Taiwan.”
“We have an abiding interest in peace and stability across
the Taiwan Strait. We will continue to assist Taiwan in maintaining a
sufficient self-defense capability, and we will maintain our commitments as
outlined in the Three Communiqués, the Taiwan Relations Act, and the Six
Assurances.”
Price added that the US’s commitment to Taiwan is “rock
solid and contributes to the maintenance of peace and stability across the
Taiwan Strait and within the region.”
“We will continue to stand with friends and allies to
advance our shared prosperity, security, and values and deepen our ties with
democratic Taiwan.”
Shortly after the State Department’s statement was released,
Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense claimed another 52 Chinese military aircraft flew
into its air defense zone, the most in one day.
China is said to have flown around 145 flights near or in
Taiwan’s airspace over the last four days.
The aircraft include Shenyang J-16 fighter jets, Sukhoi
SU-30 fighter jets and Xian H-6 twin-engine bombers. Also deployed were Shaanxi
Y-8 ASW turbo transport submarine hunters and a Shaanxi KJ-500 early warning
aircraft.
Amid the flyover missions, Chinese state media issued
several threats toward Taiwan and its ally Australia, questioning whether the
nation will join Taiwan in becoming “cannon fodder,” after Taiwan’s foreign
minister requested help from the Oceanic country.
China’s Global Times newspaper tweeted the warning on
Monday.
“Since Taiwan authorities are preparing for war, let’s see
whether Australia is willing to accompany Taiwan separatist regime to become
cannon fodder,” the account wrote.
Hu Zijin, editor for the Global Times, also tweeted that it
is “only a matter of time before Taiwan’s separatist authorities fall,”
praising the weekend’s military flights.
In response to China’s flyover missions, Taipei scrambled
its own aircraft, issued radio warnings and deployed air defense missile
systems.
While the US does not treat Taiwan as an entirely
independent nation, it has come to its defense over Chinese attempts to claim
the sovereign nation.
According to the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, the US is
obligated to preserve the “human rights of the people of Taiwan” and provide
and support defense against China.
In recent months, China has threatened other countries
against joining the US in that pledge.
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