Taiwan said it spotted 33 Chinese military aircraft and eight ships in its airspace and waters within a day. A balloon was also spotted about 170 kilometers west of Taiwan, the country’s Defense Ministry announced on Friday.
It was the fourth Chinese balloon spotted off the coast of Taiwan since Sunday. With 41 aircraft and ships, the Chinese military presence around Taiwan was the largest since November 4, according to a calculation by the AFP news agency based on figures from the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense.
Taiwanese president calls Beijing a ‘separatist’
China had previously expressed anger over the travel plans of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, who begins a tour of the Pacific on Saturday. Plans include a visit to Hawaii and the American territory of Guam. The Taiwanese president, who has been in power since May, speaks more loudly about Taiwan’s sovereignty than his predecessor Tsai Ing-wen. Beijing therefore classifies him as a ‘separatist’.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said Thursday that Beijing strongly opposes “any form of official interaction with China’s Taiwan region.” China’s military has the “sacred duty” of protecting national sovereignty and will “resolutely crush any attempt to secede from Taiwan.”
Taiwan is a breakaway province from China
China views Taiwan as a breakaway province that should be reunited with the mainland – through military force if necessary. Beijing has increased its military activities around Taiwan in recent years.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
