Tensions in the China Sea. Taiwan detected a record number of 153 Chinese planes in one day near its coasts, following Chinese military maneuvers to encircle the autonomously managed territory, which ended on Monday.
These movements occurred during a 25-hour period ending at 6:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday (12:00 a.m. Monday Paris time), according to data released by the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense on Tuesday, which said that 14 Chinese ships had also been detected during the same period. Of these 153 planes, 111 crossed the median line which bisects the Taiwan Strait, an area 180 kilometers wide between the island and mainland China.
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Maximum pressure from Beijing
These military maneuvers took place a few days after a speech by Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te on Thursday, to mark the island’s National Day. The Taiwanese leader pledged to “ resist annexation » island Chinese or « to the encroachment of its sovereignty ».
Exercises presented by the Chinese army as a “ warning ” to ” separatists » from Taiwan, with Beijing regularly accusing the Taiwanese authorities of campaigning for the independence of the island territory. Named “Joint Sword-2024B” (“ United Sharp Swords-2024B ), Monday’s exercises took place in areas located to the north, south and east of Taiwan, according to the Chinese army.
Japanese authorities on alert
This Tuesday, Tokyo said it had expressed its “ concerns » to Beijing regarding these Chinese military maneuvers that occurred the day before, and sent fighter planes near the southern Japanese island of Yonaguni. “ The government is closely monitoring relevant activities with extreme care, and has conveyed Japan’s concerns to the Chinese side “, Deputy Secretary General of the Government Kazuhiko Aoki told the press.
The senior government official also indicated that two Chinese navy ships, including the aircraft carrier Liaoning, had sailed in waters near Yonaguni Island on Sunday. Chinese military planes then took off from Liaoning and landed there during military maneuvers on Monday, he added.
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Bad relationships
Relations between Beijing and Taipei have deteriorated significantly since 2016 and the arrival as Taiwanese president of Tsai Ing-wen, then of her successor Lai Ching-te in 2024. China has regularly accused them of wanting to widen the cultural separation between the island and the continent. In response, Beijing notably strengthened its military activity around the territory. And for good reason, China considers Taiwan as one of its provinces, which it has not yet managed to reunify with the rest of its territory since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949.
Disputes between Beijing and Taipei date back to the long civil war which pitted communist fighters led by Mao Tse-tung against the nationalist forces of Chiang Kai-shek. Defeated by the communists, who founded the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949, the nationalists took refuge with many civilians in Taiwan.
The Philippines shows its muscles against Beijing
Thousands of American and Filipino Marines launched ten days of exercises in the north and west of the Philippines on Tuesday. Exercises planned for a long time, but which are taking place the day after vast Chinese military maneuvers around Taiwan. These operations are focused on the defense of the northern coast of Philippineswhich faces Taiwan which China considers as one of its provinces which it has not yet succeeded in reunifying with the rest of its territory.
The exercises will include live firing on the northern coast of the Philippine island of Luzon, located some 800 kilometers south of Taiwan. Some will also take place on the island of Palawan, facing the South China Sea. Tension has risen recently between China and the Philippines, a military ally of the United States, over reefs in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely, and skirmishes have taken place at sea.
(With AFP)
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