China's defense ministry accused the Taiwanese government on Thursday of deliberately implying a military threat from China to make electoral gains ahead of the island's elections in just over two weeks, but again sent warplanes to the island. Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan's Jan. 13 presidential and legislative elections will shape the Chineseclaimed island's relations with Beijing, which has increased military pressure over the past four years to assert its sovereignty claims.
As the election approaches, Taiwan reported the presence of Chinese fighter jets and warships around the island as well as balloons crossing the sensitive Taiwan Strait, although the military says these are most likely for meteorological surveillance purposes.
At a monthly news conference in Beijing, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said the Taiwanese government was responsible for the tensions.
“The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities are deliberately exaggerating the socalled 'military threat from the mainland' and increasing tensions,” Wu said, referring to Taiwan's ruling party, which Beijing views as separatist.
“This is solely in pursuit of electoral gains,” he said, accusing Taiwan of using a “wellknown election book to promote confrontation and rig the election.”
Shortly after Wu's speech, Taiwan's defense ministry reported more Chinese military activity in the strait, saying it detected 12 military aircraft crossing or flying near the waterway's median line on Thursday afternoon.
The ministry said the planes, including J11 and Su30 fighters, entered airspace north, central and southwest of Taiwan and “worked with communist ships to conduct joint combat readiness patrols.”
According to the ministry, Chinese warplanes have regularly crossed the median line, which previously served as an unofficial barrier between the two sides.
Wu reiterated that China does not recognize the middle line.
“Taiwan is part of China. The 'middle line' absolutely does not exist,” he said.
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