TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan’s defense ministry said on Thursday that Chinese warplanes and warships had carried out the first “combat patrol” around New Year Island, after Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te reiterated his willingness to talk to Beijing.
China, which considers democratic Taiwan its territory, sends its military into the skies and waters near the island almost daily and conducts what Taiwan calls “joint combat readiness patrols” several times a month.
Taiwan’s defense ministry said it detected 22 Chinese military aircraft, including J-16 fighter jets, conducting a “joint combat readiness patrol” around Taiwan in cooperation with Chinese warships starting Thursday morning.
It said the Chinese plane was flying in the airspace in the north, west, southwest and east of Taiwan and that Taiwanese forces were sent to keep watch.
China’s defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
At a New Year’s press conference, Lai reiterated his desire to exchange with China. He repeatedly called for negotiations, but was refused. Beijing, which held two rounds of war games over Taiwan last year, calls him a “separatist”.
On Wednesday, China’s Eastern Command, whose area of responsibility includes Taiwan, posted a New Year’s Eve video on social media of warships and warplanes and what appeared to be a Chinese fighter jet flying near a P-8 Poseidon patrol plane that the US sometimes sends through Taiwan. strait.
The video, set to the song “Chinese” by Hong Kong pop star Andy Lau, also includes images of Chinese students visiting Taiwan late last year at the invitation of former President Ma Ying-jeou.
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung told reporters in Taipei on Thursday that he had seen more Chinese psychological warfare.
“The People’s Liberation Army is showing its intimidation of Taiwan,” he said.
Lai and his government say that only the people of Taiwan can decide their future.
