Chinese Fighter Jets Crossed Taiwan Strait, ‘Driven Out’ by Taiwan Air Force
On Monday, Taiwan’s defence ministry said that Chinese fighter jets briefly crossed their median line of the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Monday morning before being “driven out” by Taiwan’s air force.
Taipei, Taiwan:
Taiwan’s defence Ministry on Monday 10th August said that Chinese fighter jets on Monday morning briefly crossed the median line of the sensitive strait and were went away after being driven out’ by Taiwan’s air force.
The ministry citing the air force reported that Taiwan’s land-based anti-aircraft missiles tracked the Chinese fighter jets. This incident happened when U.S Health Secretary Alex Azar was on a first full day visit in Taiwan. It is comprehensible China views Taiwan as its own territory, with no right to state-to-state ties.
A senior Taiwan official intimate with the government’s security planning said that China was obviously “targeting” Azar’s visit with a “very risky” move given the Chinese jets were in range of Taiwan’s missiles.
According to reports, around 9 am local time (6:30 am Indian Standard Time) China flew J-11 and J-10 fighter jets briefly onto Taiwan’s side of the strait that separates China from Taiwan.
The incursion was only the third time since 2016 that Taiwan has said Chinese jets had crossed the strait’s median line.
Azar said in the Presidential Office, standing in front of two Taiwanese flags “It’s a true honour to be here to convey a message of strong support and friendship from President Trump to Taiwan. Taiwan’s response to COVID-19 has been among the most successful in the world, and that is a tribute to the open, transparent, democratic nature of Taiwan’s society and culture.”
Azar’s visit will strengthen the economic and public health cooperation with Taiwan and support its international role in fighting the novel coronavirus.