Taiwan reports a surge in Chinese air force activity around the island. Defence ministry said it had detected 66 Chinese military aircrafts in its air space. They were headed to join the military drills with an aircraft carrier Shandong to the South Pacific. China is conducting military drills around Taiwanese territory which coincide with the NATO summit in Washington. It was reported to be a single-day record for this year.
Defence ministry spokesperson Sun Li-fang commented saying China’s intrusions into the grey zone of Taiwan Strait must be seen as a threat to regional stability. He slammed China’s “grey zone tactics”, which serve the purpose of exhausting the adversary over a long period without resorting to outright acts of war.
China’s latest show of military display came as the US ambassador to Taiwan met with President Lai Ching Te on July 10.
Surge in Chinese air force activity in the recent past
The largest number of aircraft ever seen around Taiwanese territory came last September when China sent in 103 military aircrafts. This record high intrusion of Chinese into the Taiwan airspace is the biggest till now. Taiwan is also facing many incursions near its waters. China has been dispatching coast guard ships that entered waters near Taiwan’s outlying islands more frequently this year.
China claims Taiwan as an inalienable part of mainland China, suggesting their rhetoric “unification” is “inevitable”. China has been intimidating the island country both politically and militarily. But they have denounced Chinese military activity in its airspace. A tactic to pressurize the democratically governed island which out rightly denies China’s sovereignty claims.
The situation remains tense as China attempts to change the status quo in the strategically important Taiwan Strait. Taiwan needs to navigate these complex geopolitical dynamics for its sovereignty.
Taiwan: theatre of US-China competition
The fear of direct confrontation over Taiwan between US-China is growing as China’s assertiveness is rising. A full-fledged war in near term is unlikely but the risk of conflict between the emerging superpower and the declining superpower is escalating.
The US is anxious over Chinese invasion of Taiwan as in the recent past China has grown both militarily and economically and so has its aggressive stance. US unparalleled support to the island country has further added fuel to the fire. US-Taiwan areas of cooperation including security have deepened (US major provider of weapons to Taiwan) along with senior level contact.
Prior to this military display, President Lai met with Raymond Greene, newly appointed de-facto ambassador to Taiwan on 10 July. They emphasized on “solid partnership” amidst Chinese repeated military provocation by conducting military exercises around the island.
These actions are seen by Chinese counterparts as creating conditions for Taiwan’s permanent separation from mainland China.
Why is Taiwan important to the United States?
Taiwan lies in a geostrategic region, also a hub for international trade and commerce making it very critical for global supply chains. Any conflict in the Taiwan Strait would send shockwaves across the globe leading to economic depression.
Taiwan’s military value for the US is unparalleled like US support. If island comes under China’s control, it will limit US ability to defend its allies in Asia, since Taiwan lies along the First Island Chain which is a network of US allies. And it would be a formidable challenge for the US to maintain balance of power in the Indo-Pacific or to counterbalance China’s influence in the region.
Therefore, it is in shared interest to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
3 Comments
Highly insightful.
Good one.
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