Lai Ching-te
Taiwan reported additional Chinese military activity nearby on Friday, with another combat patrol as the government urged Beijing not to exacerbate tensions following the seizure of a Taiwanese fishing boat.
China, which considers democratically governed Taiwan as its territory, has increased its military and political pressure during the past four years.
On Tuesday, Chinese officials boarded and detained a Taiwanese fishing boat for unlawfully operating in the country’s waters, in what a senior Taiwan official described as psychological warfare.
Taiwan’s defence ministry stated that beginning just before 7 a.m. (2300 GMT) on Friday, it spotted 26 Chinese military aircraft, including J-16 fighters, conducting a joint combat readiness patrol with Chinese warships.
“The Chinese aircraft flew into airspace to the north, centre and southern part of Taiwan”, the ministry continued.
Taiwan has spotted at least 127 Chinese military aircraft operating near the island since the beginning of this month.
Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai said that fishermen should be on high alert level and avoid doing anything that could be considered illegal.
“At the same time, I also want to ask the Chinese side not to escalate with any the use of any excessive measures, because this can easily cause tension and unnecessary confrontation which is extremely unnecessary”, Cho Jung-tai added.
China claims that the core reason for its problems with Taiwan is new President Lai Ching-te’s separatist views.
Lai denies China’s sovereignty claims, claiming that only Taiwanese citizens can decide their future.
