Taiwan Claims To Track 36 Chinese Military Aircraft, 6 Naval Vessels In Its Territory

Taipei: Taiwan on Friday claimed that it tracked Chinese military aircraft and ships in its territory during the 24-hour period between Thursday and Friday. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked as many as 36 Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels during this time frame, Taiwan News reported. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the northern, southwestern, and southeastern parts.
In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor PLA activity.
So far this month, the MND has tracked Chinese military aircraft 101 times and naval ships 26 times. Since September 2020, China has increased its use of gray zone tactics by incrementally increasing the number of military aircraft and naval vessels operating around Taiwan, Taiwan News reported.
Gray zone tactics are defined as “an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one’s security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force.”
After China issued new legal guidelines that threatened Taiwan’s autonomy, the authorities once again attempted to threaten the existence of Taiwan.
According to the latest judicial guidelines imposed by China, the crimes of secession committed by Taiwanese separatists are punishable under Chinese law.
The guidelines authorise the use of trials in absentia and even the death penalty for anyone asserting Taiwan’s independence, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported.
China is doggedly pursuing an aggressive and expansionist goal in Taiwan, an area they essentially have no rule over. Surprisingly, Taiwan has stayed free of Chinese control since it was formed in 1949. A report from Human Rights Watch underlined apprehensions about China’s intimidating approach towards Taiwan and its inhabitants, in addition to the escalating attempts to quell their basic rights.