The Chinese have deployed multiple warplanes and navy ships towards Taiwan amid tensions between the two nations over disputed territories.
On Wednesday, Taiwan’s defense ministry announced that 68 warpanes and 13 navy ships have been sent in the direction of the island nation, with some crossing the median line in the Taiwan Strait.
China sends warplanes and navy ships to Taiwan https://t.co/eZK6kCpBtn #OAN
— One America News (@OANN) July 13, 2023
“Since 0700 (UTC+8) today (Jul. 12), the R.O.C. Armed Forces detected 30 PLA aircraft (including J-10, J-16, H-6, Y-8 EW, Carrier-based aircraft, UAV etc.), 23 of which crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait or entered our SW/SE ADIZ,” the country’s Ministry of National Defense tweeted.
The defense ministry also said that 32 Chinese aircraft entered Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone on Tuesday, with another 23 the following day.
“The PLA aircraft conducted long-range aerial reconnaissance training alongside long-distance vessels to the southeast of Taiwan,” they said. “Four PLAN [People’s Liberation Army Navy] vessels also conducted joint combat patrol.”
This comes as Beijing is preparing for its annual defensive training, which is meant for the event of an invasion. Taiwan is also scheduled to hold its annual Han Guang exercise later in July for the very same purpose as China’s.
Despite the strait being regarded as international waters, the Chinese have been warning outside vessels that they are in Chinese territorial waters, to the point of threatening them with their armada.
Additionally, U.S. allies are reportedly preparing for the possibility of war over Taiwan, thanks to the Biden administration’s meddling with both Taiwan and China.
Axios reported recently that several world leaders have started to distance themselves from the China-Taiwan sovereignty issue as tensions continue to rise between the U.S. and China.
Most recently, the U.S. accused China of provocation after a Chinese warship nearly collided with the USS Chung-Hoon.
Canada’s Global News reported that the Chinese destroyer sped up and cut in front of the U.S. ship’s bow, warning the latter ship that there would be a collision if it didn’t change course.
The Chinese ship was warned by the U.S. to steer clear of the destroyer, but at the last second, they changed course. The close call also reportedly led the Chung-Hoon to slow down and change its path.
