China has gradually increased the number of military planes and navy ships operating near Taiwan since September 2020…reports Asian Lite News
Taiwan on Monday tracked 24 Chinese military aircraft and five naval ships between 6 a.m. on Sunday (June 11) and 6 a.m. on Monday (June 12), Taiwan news reported citing the Ministry of National Defense (MND).
Ten of the 24 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, including four Shenyang J-11 fighter jets, four Shenyang J-16 combat jets, and two Sukhoi Su-30 fighter planes, entered Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ) and crossed the Taiwan Strait median line, according to the MND. Taiwan responded by sending ships, planes, and land-based missiles to track PLA activity. Beijing has surrounded Taiwan with 53 naval ships and 141 military aircraft so far this month, according to Taiwan news.
China has gradually increased the number of military planes and navy ships operating near Taiwan since September 2020, expanding its use of grey zone techniques. “An effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one’s security objectives without resorting to direct and substantial use of force” is the definition of a grey zone tactic.
Earlier this month, in his address at the Shangri-La Security Summit in Singapore, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin warned that the conflict in Taiwan Strait would be a devastating one, criticising China for its actions in the region.
“Our policy is constant and firm. It has held true across U.S. administrations. And we will continue to categorically oppose unilateral changes to the status quo from either side. I’d also highlight that conflict is neither imminent or inevitable. Deterrence is strong today–and it’s our job to keep it that way,” Austin said at the Shangri-La Security Summit in Singapore on Saturday. “You know, the whole world has a stake in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait–the whole world. The security of commercial shipping lanes and global supply chains depends on it. And so does freedom of navigation world-wide.
But make no mistake: conflict in the Taiwan Strait would be devastating,” he said in his remarks ‘A Shared Vision for the Indo-Pacific’ in Singapore. (ANI)