A US Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft’s transit through the Taiwan Strait has sparked another round of heightened tensions between the US and China. China’s military responded by deploying naval and air forces, accusing the US of misleading the international community, while the US insists the flight adhered to international law.
The US election has left Taiwan grappling with a critical question: will the US defend the island nation from Chinese aggression? President-elect Donald Trump’s past comments suggest a less interventionist approach, while his advisors maintain a hawkish stance. Experts weigh in on the potential implications for the Taiwan Strait, a region on the brink of heightened tensions.
A Chinese aircraft carrier group, led by the Liaoning, has been spotted sailing towards the Taiwan Strait. This comes a day after Beijing conducted a live-fire exercise near the self-ruled island, escalating tensions in the region. Taiwan’s defence ministry has confirmed the presence of the carrier group and stated its military is closely monitoring the situation.
A US and Canadian warship conducted a joint transit through the Taiwan Strait, underscoring their commitment to freedom of navigation. This comes shortly after China staged war games around Taiwan, escalating tensions in the region. China condemned the mission as “disruptive” while the US and Canada maintain the transit was “routine” and in accordance with international law.
China concluded a day of military exercises around Taiwan on Monday, deploying fighter jets and warships in a show of force that Beijing described as a “stern warning” to “separatist” forces on the island. The drills, the fourth of their kind in just over two years, were met with condemnation from the US, which called them “unwarranted” and a risk of “escalation.” The exercises come amid rising tensions over Taiwan’s sovereignty, with Beijing increasingly assertive in its claims to the self-ruled island.
China conducted large-scale military exercises encircling Taiwan, prompting the Taiwanese Defense Ministry to heighten its alert on outlying islands while maintaining a commitment to self-defense. The drills, described by China as a warning against Taiwanese independence, were met with criticism from Taiwan’s government, who called them a threat to regional stability. The exercises highlight the growing tensions between China and Taiwan, with Beijing’s claims of sovereignty over the island met with firm resistance from Taipei.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged China to refrain from any provocative actions against Taiwan after Beijing reacted strongly to the newly elected Taiwanese President’s speech. Blinken emphasized the importance of preserving the status quo and maintaining peace and stability in the region, highlighting the crucial role Taiwan plays in global trade and semiconductor production.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported the detection of 20 Chinese military aircraft around its territory on Wednesday, including 14 that crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait. The incident comes ahead of Taiwan’s National Day on October 10th, amidst rising tensions between Taiwan and China.
China has condemned the passage of two German navy ships through the Taiwan Strait, accusing them of increasing security risks and sending the wrong signal. The incident comes amidst heightened tensions between China and Taiwan, with both sides asserting their claims over the strait, a crucial global trade route.
Two German warships are scheduled to sail through the Taiwan Strait this month, marking the first German naval passage through the waterway in 22 years. The move has sparked criticism from Beijing, which views the strait as its territory, but Germany maintains the passage is routine and a demonstration of its commitment to a rules-based order.
