Over 40 Chinese jets intrude into Taiwan's airspace as US and European delegations visit the country

Taipei/Beijing: – During the visits of the US and European delegations, more than 40 Chinese planes intruded into the Taiwanese airspace. Taiwan’s Defence Minister warned that the infiltration has worsened the situation in the Sino-Taiwanese region. Meanwhile, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen appealed that Taiwan and Europe must work together against China’s monopoly and propaganda.

Last week, a delegation of five US lawmakers visited Taiwan. On Sunday, a delegation of parliamentarians from three European Baltic states arrived in Taiwan. It includes members of parliament from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. China is upset that the United States and European countries are strengthening their diplomatic ties with Taiwan. To protest this growing cooperation, China tried to infiltrate and pressurise Taiwan.

During the four days from Friday to Monday, 44 Chinese planes entered Taiwan’s airspace. The biggest intrusion took place on Sunday, with as many as 27 jets entering Taiwan‘s territory. It included eight J-16s, six J-10s, four J-11s, five Xi’an H-6 bombers, two KJ-500 early warning aircraft, Y-9 electronic warfare aircraft and The Xi’an Y-20U aerial tanker. According to Taiwan’s defence ministry, this is the first time the Chinese air force has sent an aerial tanker. The intrusion of five aircraft was revealed on Monday, involving two J-16s, two J-10s and a Y-8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft.

This is the largest intrusion by Chinese aircraft since the beginning of October. In the first five days of October, about 150 Chinese planes intruded into the Taiwanese territory. The intrusion had provoked a strong international reaction. Taiwan has expressed concern over new Chinese incursions. The movement of Chinese aircraft exacerbates the situation in the Sino-Taiwanese region, said Taiwan’s Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-Cheng. However, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu warned that Taiwan would never bow down to any amount of military pressure exerted by China.

Meanwhile, members of the European Parliament, who arrived in Taiwan on Sunday, met with President Tsai Ing-wen. President Tsai Ing-wen appealed that Europe and Taiwan should work together for the security of democracy. ‘We are here to send a message that Europe is with Taiwan,’ the European delegation said in a statement. The European Parliamentary delegation is on an eight-day visit to Taiwan.