Tensions flares up between China and Taiwan, as Chinese warplanes seen flying over the Island

New Delhi: Taiwan’s defence ministry called out China’s military’s 24-hour mobilization of 103 warplanes as a recent high.

The planes were spotted between Sunday and Monday morning, according to the ministry, and they turned around before they reached Taiwan. Nearly every day, although usually in lower numbers, Chinese jets fly towards the independent island. The Taiwanese ministry failed to define what it meant by a “recent” high.

As tensions between the two countries and with the United States have increased, China, which claims that Taiwan is a part of its territory, has conducted a number of increasingly significant military exercises in the air and on the seas near Taiwan. The United States is Taiwan’s principal source of weaponry and opposes any effort to forcibly overturn Taiwan’s status.

Here is quick infographic of #China‘s recent air force operations towards #Taiwan between 11-18 September 2023, as of the last 24 hours Taiwan detected 103 China PLA aircraft with many crossing the into its ADIZ, this being a record high ! pic.twitter.com/6kynBo7MvN

— Damien Symon (@detresfa_) September 18, 2023

The Chinese government wants Taiwan to submit to its reign voluntarily, and last week, it unveiled a plan for an integrated development demonstration zone in the province of Fujian in an effort to woo the population there while also militarily threatening the island, according to experts. This is part of China’s long-standing “carrot and stick” strategy.

Attempts to influence Taiwan’s presidential election in January may be the motivation for the most recent attempts. The Chinese government despises the current government’s Democratic Progressive Party because it favours the island’s legal independence. Candidates from the opposition who support cooperation with the mainland are more likely to win.

The Defence Ministry of Taiwan reported that 40 of the aircraft had flown over the famous midway point between the mainland and the island. In addition to midair refuelling tanker planes, they contained more than 30 fighter aeroplanes. Nine Chinese naval ships were spotted in the region’s waters in the previous day, according to Taiwan.

According to the government, the Chinese military operation is “harassment” and could get worse given the delicate situation in the region. In a statement, it requested Beijing’s government to take accountability and promptly put an end to such unfavourable military operations.”

Taiwan and China were divided into two different entities in 1949, when China’s communists captured the government after a civil war. As a result of their defeat, the Nationalists retreated to Taiwan and established their own government on the island, away from the mainland China.