A visit to China by a group of 17 Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers “is doing nothing regarding China’s continuing military intimidation against Taiwan,” Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) said yesterday.
Wang made the remarks as the Ministry of National Defense said in a statement that 22 Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and four PLA Navy vessels were detected around Taiwan in the 24 hours leading up to 6am yesterday.
Twelve of the 22 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s northern air defense identification zone, including an unspecified number that flew as close as 37 nautical miles (68.5km) to Keelung, the ministry said.
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of National Defense
The armed forces monitored the situation and used combat air patrol aircraft, navy vessels and coastal missile systems in response, the ministry said.
“The KMT members have become tools for Beijing’s united front propaganda campaign,” Wang said. “Beijing is manipulating Taiwan’s parliament by using democracy to kill democracy.”
“It is regretful that the 17 KMT lawmakers now in China are afraid to speak up for Taiwan, as we still face constant military threats from China and intimidatory gray zone tactics. We cannot see how the KMT’s ‘trip to promote peace and friendship’ has achieved anything. Instead they are acting like sycophants by pandering to Chinese officials,” Wang said.
The KMT delegation, headed by KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi, returned to Taiwan yesterday after three days in Beijing.
Fu has said the goal of the visit was to foster peace and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait.
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