Taiwan Reports Increased Chinese Military Activity Near Its Borders
Taipei [Taiwan], September 19: Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) reported that 20 Chinese military aircraft and 10 naval vessels were detected operating around Taiwan from 6 am Wednesday to 6 am Thursday.
According to the MND, 15 of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s northern, southwestern, and eastern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). The MND stated, “20 PLA aircraft and 10 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. today. 15 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, central and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.”
This latest activity adds to a series of similar provocations by Beijing in recent months. China has increased its military activities near Taiwan, including regular air and naval incursions into Taiwan’s ADIZ and military exercises near the island. Since September 2020, China has intensified its use of gray zone tactics by increasing the number of military aircraft and naval vessels operating near Taiwan.
Taiwan has been governed independently since 1949, but China considers Taiwan part of its territory and insists on eventual reunification, by force if necessary. In July, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te accused China of misinterpreting a United Nations resolution to justify its military activities against Taiwan. He condemned China for its inaccurate interpretation of UN Resolution 2758, which China claims confirms its one-China principle.
Following Lai Ching-te’s remarks, the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) adopted a “model resolution” to address China’s “distortion” of the UN resolution. The resolution states that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is “the only legitimate representative of China to the United Nations.”
Doubts Revealed
Taiwan -: Taiwan is an island near China. It has its own government and is not controlled by China.
Chinese Military -: The Chinese Military is the armed forces of China. They have soldiers, planes, and ships to protect their country.
Ministry of National Defence -: This is a part of Taiwan’s government that takes care of the country’s safety and military.
Military Aircraft -: These are planes used by the military for defense and sometimes for fighting.
Naval Vessels -: These are ships used by the navy, which is the part of the military that operates at sea.
Median Line of the Taiwan Strait -: This is an imaginary line in the water between Taiwan and China. It helps to keep peace by marking where each side’s military should stay.
Air Defence Identification Zone -: This is an area where a country watches the skies to see if any planes are coming close. It helps them stay safe.
UN resolution -: A UN resolution is a decision made by the United Nations, which is a group of countries working together to solve problems and keep peace.
Lai Ching-te -: Lai Ching-te is the President of Taiwan. He helps lead the country and make important decisions.