The Ministry of National Defense again reported Chinese military activity around Taiwan yesterday, with 11 aircraft crossing the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait, as election campaigns kicked into high gear.
The government has complained for the past four years of regular Chinese military patrols and drills near Taiwan, as Beijing seeks to pressure Taipei over its sovereignty claims.
Candidates have to register with the Central Election Commission this week to be on the ballot for the presidential and legislative elections on Jan. 13.
Screengrab from the Japanese Ministry of Defense’s Web site.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which Beijing views as separatists, registered its presidential ticket on Tuesday, while opposition parties are mired in disagreement about a potential joint bid.
The defense ministry said that starting early yesterday afternoon it detected J-10 and J-16 fighters as well as H-6 bombers and early warning aircraft carrying out overseas missions.
Eleven of those aircraft crossed the median line of the Strait, flying in airspace to the center and southwest of Taiwan proper, working with Chinese warships to carry out “joint combat readiness patrols,” the ministry added.
The median line had previously served as an unofficial barrier between the two sides and which Chinese planes now regularly fly over.
The military sent its own forces to monitor the Chinese aircraft, the ministry said.
The Chinese Ministry of National Defense did not answer calls seeking comment. Beijing says its activities near Taiwan are aimed at preventing “collusion” between Taiwan separatists and the US, and to protect China’s territorial integrity.
Taipei, which has repeatedly offered talks with Beijing, rejects China’s sovereignty claims and says only Taiwanese can decide their future.
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), which traditionally supports close ties with Beijing, has pledged to reopen dialogue with China should it win the presidency in January.
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