70 Chinese Warplanes Launch Simulated Attacks on Taiwan, Escalating Tensions in the Region

On Sunday, April 9, China increased military pressure on Taiwan by sending 70 warplanes, including fighter jets, reconnaissance planes, and refuellers, into the country's air defense identification zone.

The Guardian reports that this is the second day of drills in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with the US House during a brief visit to the United States.

Heightened Chinese Military Exercises Near Taiwan

Taiwan's defense ministry said it was closely monitoring the movements of China's missile forces, and the United States said it was also on high alert. China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has carried out these three-day exercises.

On Saturday morning, the PLA announced the start of the drills, and by that evening, 71 warplanes and eight ships had entered Taiwan's ADIZ, with nearly 60 crossing the median line.

According to Taiwan's ministry, the activity violated Indo-Pacific peace and stability and harmed international security and economies. It urged other nations to speak out against China's actions.

Meanwhile, Chinese state television reported that multiple units conducted simulated strikes on key targets in Taiwan and the surrounding sea.

Chinese War Games

According to a source from Taiwan's security team talking with Reuters, Chinese military exercises occurred in the Bashi Channel on Saturday. These exercises involved practicing attacks on aircraft carrier groups and anti-submarine maneuvers.

In contrast to similar exercises in August of last year, China has not announced any drills this time, and only one notice of a live-fire zone has been issued by Chinese maritime authorities. This notice warns ships and planes to avoid a small water area near Pingtan in the Taiwan Strait.

It is important to note that this area is much smaller than the designated live-fire zones from last year's drills.

Increased China-Taiwan Tension

Despite Beijing's warnings, The Guardian reports that Tsai met with Speaker of the US House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy last week in Los Angeles.

China, which has never renounced the use of force to take control of the island, claims Taiwan is the most critical and sensitive issue in its relations with the United States, and the subject is a frequent source of tension.

China has also increased military pressure on Taiwan in the last three years by flying regular missions around the island, but not in its territorial airspace or over the island itself.

According to Chinese state media, the aircraft that flew into the ADIZ this weekend were armed with live weapons. Taiwanese air force jets typically carry live weapons when scrambling to repel Chinese incursions.

Despite the military tensions, civilian flights around Taiwan have continued as usual, including to Kinmen and Matsu, two groups of Taiwan-controlled islands right next to the Chinese coast. However, civilian air traffic was disrupted in August when China declared effective no-fly zones in several blocks near Taiwan from which it was firing missiles.

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