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
communiques, the taiwan relations act and
the six assurances," Price added.
Price added that the us's commitment to
taiwan is brought 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, Suhoy 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's separatist regime to become
cannon fodder, the account wrote.
Whu Zaigen 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 u.s 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.
