Taiwan refuses to recognise air defence zone China creates in South China Sea

Taiwan dated 6^thJune (New Agency) – The newly elected government in Taiwan clearly stated that it will not bow down to Chinese bullying, and they visibly condemned the ‘Air Defence Zone‘ or the ‘Air Corridor’ made by China in the South China Sea. The creation of the Air Corridor by demarcating the maritime boundaries could lead to unrest in South East Asia. The newly appointed defence minister of Taiwan pointed out that the delineation could escalate and create a new wave of tension in the region.

Tsai Ing-wen has recently been elected the President of Taiwan. Ms.Wen is better known for her anti-China stand and has won this election as a candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). She overpowered the eight year old government which had a positive inclination towards China. During her swearing in ceremony, Tsai Ing –Wen gave China a warning by declaring that she would never ever compromise on Taiwan’s sovereignty. Similarly,Mr. Feng Shih-kuan the defence minister of Taiwan, also raised concerns about China’s role in the South China Sea controversy and strongly condemned the ‘Air Corridor’being created by China.

As per the details shared by the Taiwan Defence Agency, the ‘Air Corridor ‘ may affect the regional security ofthe South China Sea region. This ambiguity would further escalate the tension amongst South China and the East Asian countries. Mr. Shih-kuan elaborated that in order to avoid such regional confrontations in the future, Taiwan is strongly opposing the actof China creating the ‘Air Corridor’ in the South China Sea.

Annually, 5 trillion US dollars’ worthof commercial shipborne trade passes through the South China Sea. China has aggressively increased its presence and claimed dominion over the entire region of the South China Sea. However its neighbours Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei also claim their equivalent stake in the South China Sea. These countries further emphasize that China has being overpowering this disputed zone byestablishingmilitary authorities. On one hand China expresses its readiness for discussionsover the South China Sea dispute with its neighbouring countries, but then at the same time, itdenies allclaims on the South China Sea region toits neighbours.

In the last few months, China hasstarted building artificial islandsin this region and has also deployed its army and security there. America too has started to directits aircraft carrier warships, surveillance aircrafts and drones towards the South China Sea. China under the refugeof America’s military mobility in the South China Sea regionhas proclaimedit as ‘Air Defence Zone’,through which China has gained theright to shootdown any trespassing aircraft seen in this region.

Earlier China had played a similar move in the East China Sea, by creating the ‘Extended Air Defence Zone’. This region had also included the aerial boundaries of Japan’s Senkaku Island, South Korea and Taiwan. Then under the pretext of protecting these boundaries, China had independently deployed fighter planes, helicopters and radar systems in the region.