The Chinese airforce has breached the Taiwan air defense zone with 13 military aircraft. The US State Department has issued China with a warning:
“We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan’s democratically elected representatives,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said.
He added: “We will continue to assist Taiwan in maintaining a sufficient self-defense capability. Our commitment to Taiwan is rock-solid and contributes to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and within the region.”
Does Biden have political & personal will to address this unfolding crisis?
“Eight Chinese bomber planes and four fighter jets entered the southwestern corner of Taiwan's air defense identification zone on Saturday”https://t.co/JpL8Kl9M2k
— Maajid أبو عمّار (@MaajidNawaz) January 24, 2021
This is nothing new and is to be expected almost daily in 2021 and with increasing aggressiveness. The Chinese Communist Party has continually threatened to unify China, in other words, annex Taiwan, the last democratic and independent part of China.
As Taiwan aggressively defends their independence, the only course of action for the CCP is to invade militarily, an action that would surely invoke the US and allied military defense of the island.
“The United States will continue to support a peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues, consistent with the wishes and best interests of the people of Taiwan. The United States maintains its longstanding commitments as outlined in the Three Communiqués, the Taiwan Relations Act, and the Six Assurances,” Price added.
Taiwan said the Chinese force was made up of eight nuclear-capable H-6K bombers and four J-16 fighter jets— and that this scale is unusual.
The Epoch Times said, “Taiwan’s air force warned the Chinese aircraft and deployed missiles to monitor them, the ministry added, using standard wording for how it responds to such activities.”
“Airborne alert sorties had been tasked, radio warnings issued, and air defense missile systems deployed to monitor the activity,” it said in a brief statement.
“Emily Horne, the spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, said the U.S. commitment to Taiwan was “rock-solid” after the island’s de facto ambassador in Washington, Hsiao Bi-khim, attended Biden’s swearing-in on Wednesday.” The Times Added.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked the State Department for its support via Twitter on Jan. 24.
“Based on shared values & interests, we’re committed to our partnership with the #US in furthering peace & stability in the #IndoPacific,” the ministry added.
