Taiwan said on Saturday that China had sent dozens of planes and ships to the island, just days after the United States approved a $500 million arms sale to Taipei.
The Defense Ministry said in a statement that 32 People’s Liberation Army planes and nine Navy ships had been detected in the past 24 hours.
Of these, 20 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait or breached the island’s air defense zone. In response to these activities, Taiwan has sent its own aircraft, ships and missile systems, according to the military.
China regards Taiwan as a national province and has not ruled out using force to force reunification.
Last year, Beijing intensified military exercises around the island in response to Taiwan’s political activities. Last week, the Chinese military launched exercises around Taiwan as a “sharp warning” from Taiwan’s vice president who was stopping over in the United States during an official trip to Paraguay.
The US State Department said on Wednesday that it had authorized the sale to Taiwan of infrared search and location systems for F-16 fighter jets and other related equipment, worth 500 million dollars (463.2 million euros). ).
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said on Friday that China opposes the arms sale, calling it “serious interference” in China’s internal affairs and describing it as “an egregious act” that violates the principle of ” one China”, as well as the three joint Chinese principles. -US releases.
Zhang also said that China urged the United States to honor its commitment not to support Taiwanese independence.
Source: TSF
