Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported on Monday that it detected 103 Chinese military aircraft around the island in a 24-hour period and assured that this is a peak in recent times.
“Between the mornings of September 17 and 18, the Ministry of National Defense detected a total of 103 Chinese aircraft, which is a recent high and poses serious challenges to the security of the Taiwan Strait,” the ministry said in a statement.
“Continuous military harassment can easily lead to a sudden increase in tension and worsen regional security,” the ministry added, demanding Beijing “immediately stop this type of destructive unilateral actions.”
Of the total aircraft detected, 50 crossed the middle line of the Taiwan Strait that separates the island from mainland China and entered the southeastern and southwestern parts of its air defense identification zone, the statement said.
In addition, they also located the presence of nine Chinese Navy ships.
The day before, Taipei had announced the detection of 28 Chinese warplanes near the island, of which 20 had crossed the median line of the strait.
INCREASED RAIDS
Beijing considers the self-governed island of Taiwan as its own province pending reunification with the rest of its territory and has increased diplomatic and military pressure against it in recent years.
Taipei last week denounced an increase in the number of incursions by Chinese military aircraft and ships, after Beijing said its troops were on “high alert” following the passage this month of two ships belonging to the United States and China through the Taiwan Strait. Canada.
The Ministry of Defense said 68 aircraft and 10 ships had been detected around the island between Wednesday and Thursday morning.
Some of those aircraft and warships were heading to an unspecified area of the Western Pacific to “conduct joint maritime and air training” with the Chinese aircraft carrier “Shandong”, according to this portfolio.
Shandong is one of two operational aircraft carriers in the Chinese fleet. Last week she was about 60 nautical miles (110 km) southeast of Taiwan heading toward the western Pacific, authorities in Taipei said.
