Chinese airplanes intrude largely into Taiwanese airspace after US denies

Beijing/Taipei/London: 18 Chinese Fighter jets and bombers intruded into the Taiwanese airspace on Saturday. This year, this is the second significant intrusion by the Chinese airplanes into Taiwanese airspace. The Chinese confidence has increased manifold following the US refusal to supply weapons and defence systems to Taiwan. The effects are apparent in the Taiwanese airspace. The Chinese aeroplanes’ intrusion at specific intervals poses a challenge to Taiwanese security. In this scenario, instead of supplying weapons to Taiwan, the United States refused to supply anti-submarine helicopters to Taiwan. A few days ago, the United States refused to supply Howitzers and Stinger missiles to Taiwan.

Earlier, 39 Chinese fighter jets and bombers had intruded into the Taiwanese airspace on the 23rd of January. This was the most significant intrusion by Chinese airplanes into the Taiwanese airspace. After that, the United States bragged about equipping Taiwan with weapons systems. The Biden administration assured that Taiwan would get full cooperation from the United States in case of a Chinese attack. The US Congress also had approved special military assistance to Taiwan.

The possibility of the Chinese attack on Taiwan to take over the country had increased following the Russian attack on Ukraine. International military analysts have been consistently warning of the possibility. China also has started thinking about protecting its foreign assets in the event of launching an attack on Taiwan. Information had been received that China had convened a national and international banks meeting for this purpose. Therefore, analysts had warned that the threat of a Chinese attack on Taiwan has increased further. Following this, weapons supply from the United States to Taiwan was expected. But over the last week, the Biden administration has refused to supply weapons to Taiwan. Two days ago, the United States refused to supply Howitzers and anti-aircraft Stinger missiles, forwarding the reason for the Ukraine war. Howitzers would have increased the striking capacity of Taiwan. Whereas, the Stinger missiles could have become a strong retaliation against the Chinese intrusions. But the Biden administration seems to have betrayed Taiwan by refusing to supply both these weapons at a time when the threat of a Chinese attack is looming large.

Within a few hours of this, Taiwan announced that it would not be purchasing anti-submarine helicopters from the United States. Besides, Taiwan withdrew from the deal, saying that the purchase of MH-60R helicopters from the United States is economically unviable. But the Taiwanese media claimed that the reasons given by Taiwan are not true and it is the United States who has refused to supply the helicopters to Taiwan.

18 Chinese airplanes intruded into the Taiwanese airspace on Saturday, once again pointing out that Taiwan is insecure. Taiwan immediately despatched its fighter jets to expel the Chinese airplanes from its airspace. But Japan has taken serious cognisance of the intrusion. Japan criticised this intrusion is a matter of serious concern. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is currently touring Europe, has already warned that if Japan and the other partner countries in the Indo-Pacific do not take a firm stand, a grave situation like Ukraine will be created in Taiwan.

Meanwhile, the Taiwanese Foreign Minister expressed hope that in the event of China launching an attack on Taiwan, the western countries will impose stringent sanctions like Russia against China. The Taiwanese Foreign Minister reminds us that Taiwan has stood with the western countries in the Russia-Ukraine war. But the international analysts are pointing out that Ukraine does not recognise Taiwan as an independent country. The international news agencies also point out that neither the United States nor the European countries have official diplomatic cooperation with Taiwan.