China sent more fighter jets to Taiwan’s air defense zone in an increasing display of power, as Taiwan’s foreign minister promised that the island would fight to the end if China attacked.
Taipei’s Ministry of Defense said it had scrambled planes to broadcast warning messages after the latest invasion, which included 12 Chinese fighters.
China’s use of such drills has risen to record levels in recent years as a way to increase pressure on self-governing Taiwan, which it considers its own territory. Beijing has promised to seize the island one day, if necessary by force.
The latest raid came as Taiwan mourned its worst train crash in decades, killing 50 people and prompting a rare message of condolence from Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu accused Beijing on Wednesday of sending “very mixed signals” by offering sympathy for the train crash while buzzing the island with its fighters. “I would say that the policy is self-defeating,” Wu said.
“It will not serve the purpose of the Chinese government, whether they want to win the hearts and minds of the Taiwanese, or whether they want to intimidate the Taiwanese people.”
He added: ‘We are prepared to defend ourselves without any questions and we will fight the war if we have to fight the war. And if we have to defend ourselves until the last day, we will defend ourselves until the last day. ”
China’s sabbatical has increased dramatically since Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen won the 2016 election for rejecting the idea that the island is part of ‘one China’.
Last year, Chinese aircraft set a record of 380 intruders in Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). Some analysts and U.S. military officials have warned that tensions are at their highest level since the mid-1990s.
Wu said there was little sign that China was prepared to reject its attacks since US President Joe Biden took office. “If you count the number of Chinese aircraft at ADIZ for this year, it is already a significant increase compared to the same period last year,” he said.
China has long used military and civilian vessels to invade its neighbors’ territories, known as “gray zone” tactics. The Philippines has been plagued in recent weeks by the sudden appearance of more than 200 Chinese vessels off a controversial reef.
“The like-minded countries in this part of the world need to be aware of the expansion of the Chinese government,” Wu said.