On Saturday, China sent warplanes to Taiwan including dozens of fighter jets and bombers, the Taiwanese defense ministry said, observing a fierce display days before the democracy intends to carry military drills to defend itself against a probable invasion.
Next week, Taipei will hold its annual Han Kuang drill, during which its military will carry out war enthusiasm exercises to stop an attack. Taiwan will also conduct the annual Wan’an drills aimed at preparing civilians for natural tragedies and rehearsing evacuations in circumstances of an air raid.
Chinese People’s Liberation Army sent 37 aircraft and seven navy vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Friday and 6 a.m. on Saturday, the defense ministry said.
The statement added that aircraft and bombers including J-10 and J-16 air fighters and H-6 war bombers, and 22 warplanes crossed the midline of the Taipei Strait or entered the Taiwanese air defense identification zone.
In 1949, Taipei and Beijing divided after a war that ended with the ruling Communist Party in the guardianship of the mainland. Taiwan has never been part of China, but Beijing expresses that Taipei must merge with the mainland.
In current years, Beijing has displayed dissatisfaction with political movements in Taipei by stepping up military aircraft sent toward Taiwan.
Beijing carried massive military exercises in reply to former US House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi’s, who visit Taipei last August. It shot missiles over Taiwan in a consequential escalation that disrupted trade routes in the Taiwan Strait.
In April, the PLA also carried out warfare eagerness exercises in the air and sea around Taiwan in reply to a meeting between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
