Chinese fighter jets enter Taiwanese airspace as top US official begins visit
Chinese military jets entered Taiwanese airspace on Friday morning as top American official Keith Krach commenced his visit to the self-ruled island.
The fighter jets entered Taiwanese airspace from the southwest, west, northwest and north of the island, with some crossing the central line of the Taiwan Strait three times, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense. The jets came as close as 37 nautical miles (42.5 miles) of the island’s shores at one point.
Among the aircrafts were two H-6 bombers, eight J-16s, four J-11s and four J-10s. The J-16 is one of the strongest types of jets that China possesses.
A Taiwanese pilot warned one of the jets that it had crossed the central line and must leave, but the Chinese pilot replied that there was no such line, according to China’s state-run tabloid Global Times.
Taiwanese Minister of National Defense Yen Teh-fa and Chief of the General Staff Huang Shu-kuang were stationed at the Heng Shan Military Command Center while the Cheng Kung-class warship departed Keelung Port in response to the jets.
The incident on Friday marked the highest number of Chinese jets to appear in Taiwan’s airspace this year, according to top military officials.
The Taiwanese air force responded with F-16 fighter jets and broadcast 24 warnings to the Chinese jets to disperse. Surface-to-air missiles were also set up to follow the Chinese jets.
The military encounter occurred as Krach, the U.S. under secretary for economic growth, energy and the environment, arrived in Taiwan late Thursday for a three-day visit. Krach is the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Taiwan since formal diplomatic ties between Washington and Taipei were severed in 1979.
Krach will meet top Taiwanese officials, including President Tsai Ing-wen, to discuss economic, security and regional matters. He will also attend Saturday’s memorial service of former President Lee Teng-hui.
Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Ren Guoqiang said the People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command was conducting a drill near the Taiwan Strait. He called the operation necessary and just in order to defend the sovereignty and completeness of the territory.
Ren said Taiwan is part of China and that Taiwan’s affairs are China’s internal affairs. He slammed Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party for colluding with the U.S. but added that they would not succeed as the Chinese army boasts the capability and confidence to fight against foreign interference and Taiwan’s pro-independence forces.
Zhang Chunhui, spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command, said the joint drill involving multiple types of military forces will improve the Chinese army’s ability to defend the country’s unity.
Taiwan Presidential Office spokesperson Chang Tun-han reassured the island’s citizens that national security units and the military have full knowledge of the situation and could ensure Taiwan’s safety. Chang urged mainland China to restrain itself from provocation as it would not be beneficial to its international image.
Hu Xijin, chief editor of Global Times, said the drill delivered two clear signs: that U.S.-Taiwan collusion would be strongly deterred and that the People’s Liberation Army could move swiftly.
If the U.S. Secretary of Defense visits Taiwan, China should fire missiles above Taiwan’s Presidential Office, Hu said.
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