Taiwan reports rise in Chinese military activity as U.S. election nears

A model of a Chinese fighter plane is seen in front of the Chinese and Taiwanese flags. file | Photo courtesy: Reuters

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said on Sunday (November 3, 2024) that it had spotted 35 Chinese military aircraft, including fighters and bombers, flying over the south of the island for exercises in the Pacific, the second consecutive day it has reported such activities. .

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China, which considers democratically ruled Taiwan as its own Our area despite strong objections The government in Taipei regularly sends its military into the skies and waters near the island to enforce its sovereignty claims.

China’s Defense Ministry did not respond to a request for comment on the missions reported days before Tuesday’s US presidential election.

The United States is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, and arms sales to Taipei, including a $2 billion missile system announced last month, have angered Beijing.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said it had detected 37 Chinese military aircraft as of 9 a.m. Sunday (0100 GMT), including J-16 fighters, nuclear-capable H-6 bombers and drones.

The ministry said 35 of those planes flew over the Western Pacific to Taiwan’s southwest, south and southeast for long-range training, adding that it had also sent troops to monitor the situation.

On Saturday, the ministry said China had conducted another “joint combat readiness patrol” with warships and aircraft near Taiwan.

China held large maneuvers around Taiwan last month in what it said was a warning against “separatist acts”, which the Taiwanese and US governments condemned.

Beijing strongly dislikes Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, who took office in May, saying he is a “separatist”. He says only the Taiwanese people can decide their future and has repeatedly offered talks with Beijing but has been rejected.