Tensions in the Taiwan Strait have risen again, with nine Chinese military planes crossing the Taiwan Strait centerline on both the north and south sides in five patrol groups. This has been denounced by Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, stressing that the island’s armed forces “monitored the situation with our means and responded to it without escalation.” China has instead said that it does not recognize the Taiwan Strait midline, as the island is part of a “united China” and destined for “reunification” with the People’s Republic of China.
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The Taipei Defense Ministry, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, said in a note, “This deliberate action has endangered regional stability, caused tension, adversely affected security and economic development. We therefore condemn this irrational act.”
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In the past few hours, Beijing had warned Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen that “no power can prevent China from reuniting the island with the People’s Republic of China.” The warning comes from State Department spokeswoman Mao Ning in light of recent comments from Tsai, who is in New York on a stopover on the trip that will take her to Guatemala and Belize, two of Taipei’s diplomatic allies in America’s central. Tsai yesterday received an award from the Hudson Institute’s conservative think tank, the Global Leadership Award, for her efforts in fostering ties with the United States years, and said Taipei will continue to work with Washington to “demonstrate Taiwan’s determination to protect our way of life.” Speaking from Beijing, the spokeswoman reiterated China’s “firm opposition” to any form of official contact between the US and Taiwan. The tension keeps growing.