Taiwan Warns Of 'Sharp Increase' In Tensions As Chinese Warplanes Cross Strait's Median Line

According to the ministry, it spotted 12 Chinese military aircraft in its air defense identification zone on Tuesday morning.

The ministry said it spotted 12 Chinese military aircraft in its air defense identification zone.

Source : Getty

New Delhi: Taiwan's defense ministry on Tuesday cautioned about a possible "sharp increase" in military tensions. This warning came after the ministry reported renewed Chinese military actions, including fighter jets crossing the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait, reported news agency Reuters.

According to the ministry, it spotted 12 Chinese military aircraft in its air defense identification zone on Tuesday morning. Among these, seven, comprising six J-10 fighters and a single drone, crossed the median line.

Self-governed Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained for three years of increased military pressure from Beijing, mostly in the form of China's air force flying near the island, reported Reuters.

Since 0900 (UTC+8) today, #ROCArmedForces has detected 24 PLA aircraft (including J-10, J-16, KJ-500, Y-9, UAV etc.), 12 of which crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait or entered the southwest ADIZ. The aircraft also conducted joint combat patrol with 5 PLAN vessels.

— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) August 29, 2023

As per the agency, the median line had for years served as an unofficial barrier between the two sides until China's air force began regularly crossing it a year ago.

"The continued military harassment by the Communist military in the region may lead to a sharp increase in tensions and worsen regional security," the ministry said, asking Beijing to "immediately stop such unilateral acts".

Maintaining the peaceful and stable status quo in the Taiwan Strait is critical to the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region, and all parties, including Beijing, have a common responsibility to uphold it, the ministry added, reported Reuters.

Meanwhile, the ministry claimed that five Chinese ships also carried out "combat readiness patrols", without giving a location.

The Chinese mission took place the same day Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, from Taiwan's main opposition party the Kuomintang which traditionally favours close relations with Beijing, arrived in Shanghai for annual city-to-city talks.

His office said the city government has many times reiterated that "the more difficult the environment is, the more the two sides should communicate".

"What the people of Taiwan want is peace and prosperity. This is the voice of the people and the firm position of the city government," it said.