TAIPEI – Taiwan’s Defence Ministry reported today that Chinese warplanes and vessels were still operating around the island, days after Beijing said its war games had officially ended.
The ministry said 26 aircraft and seven vessels were detected in the last 24 hours, as of 6am. Among these, 14 Chinese warplanes crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s air defence identification zone, or Adiz, reported German news agency dpa.
The ministry yesterday said that 35 aircraft and eight Chinese vessels were detected on Tuesday.
China’s military muscle flexing serves to intimidate Taiwan and warn against independence efforts.
China staged three days of military drills in response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California last week. Beijing said the exercises ended on Monday.
Taiwan has had an independent government since 1949, but China considers the self-ruled democracy part of its territory. – Bernama, April 13, 2023
