Thursday, December 12, 2024 - Taiwan reported on Thursday, December 12, that 16 Chinese warships had been detected in waters around the island, marking one of the highest numbers recorded this year as Beijing continues to intensify military pressure on Taipei.
The warships, accompanied by 34 Chinese aircraft, were
spotted within the 24-hour period leading up to 6:00 am local time (2200 GMT)
on Thursday, according to the defence ministry’s daily update.
Taiwan authorities revealed earlier this week that Beijing
has been conducting its largest maritime drills in years, spanning areas near
Japan's southern islands to the South China Sea.
A Taiwanese security official disclosed that around 90
Chinese warships and coast guard vessels were participating in the exercises,
which included simulating attacks on foreign vessels and practising blockades
of sea routes.
China has not officially announced the drills, and there has
been no confirmation from its army or state media regarding increased military
activity in the Taiwan Strait, East China Sea, South China Sea, or Western
Pacific Ocean.
The drills come after Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s
recent Pacific tour, which included two stops in US territory. Beijing, which
claims Taiwan as part of its territory, expressed fury over the trip.
According to the security official, the large-scale maritime
exercises were planned in October and aimed to demonstrate Beijing's ability to
blockade Taiwan while sending a “red line” warning ahead of the next US
administration.
The drills are reportedly “significantly larger” than
China’s response to then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei in
2022, which saw Beijing conduct its largest-ever military exercises around
Taiwan.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry condemned the increased military
activity, labelling China a “troublemaker.” Meanwhile, China’s foreign
ministry, without confirming or denying the drills, placed blame on Taiwan.
James Char, a military expert from Singapore’s Nanyang
Technological University, noted that Beijing’s silence serves as a message.
“This is another means by the mainland to force its position upon others,” he
said, suggesting that China views the waters and airspace around Taiwan as
under its sovereignty.
Taiwan continues to face the threat of invasion from China,
which has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control.
Beijing has ramped up military deployments around Taiwan in recent years and
opposes any international recognition of the self-ruled island, particularly in
the context of official interactions between Taipei and Washington.
The 16 warships detected on Thursday represent the highest
tally since May 25, when 27 Chinese navy vessels were observed during military
drills conducted shortly after Lai’s inauguration.
Go and Subscribe to our YouTube
Channel and get the best videos around the country, go HERE>>>
0 Comments