Taiwan denounces Chinese plane incursions despite end of maneuvers

Beijing, Apr 11 (EFE).- Taiwan denounced Tuesday the incursion of 26 Chinese planes and nice ships in areas around the island despite Beijing announcing the end of the maneuvers carried out by its army, state news agency CNA reported.

It added that the Taiwanese Defense Ministry reported 14 Chinese planes crossing the median line of the Strait of Formosa, which in practice is an unofficial border respected by Taipei and Beijing in recent decades.

The movements were detected until 11am on Tuesday (3am GMT).

China announced three days of exercises around the island Saturday in response to a Wednesday meeting in California between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Tsai said Monday night on the social network Facebook that as president, she represents her country “to the world,” that her visits abroad are not new and that they are what Taiwanese people expect her to do.

“However, China used this to launch military exercises, causing instability in Taiwan and the region. This is not a responsible attitude,” she said.

China concluded its maneuvers Monday, simulating a blockade of the island with the participation of Shandong, the country’s second aircraft carrier.

The Chinese Defense Ministry announced the “complete success” of the exercises, according to spokesman Shi Yi, who said forces are “ready to resolutely crush any form of separatism and attempts at foreign interference.”

Chinese Foreign Affairs spokesmen have said in recent days that the “greatest threat to peace in Taiwan” is “separatist activities and collusion with foreign forces”, and that the maneuvers were “necessary to protect the sovereignty and national territorial integrity.”

Beijing has considered Taiwan a rogue province since Kuomintang nationalists withdrew there in 1949 after losing the civil war to the communist army.

In recent weeks there has been friction between Taipei and Beijing due to Tsai’s meeting with McCarthy, but also due to Honduras breaking relations with Taiwan to establish them with China, which reduced Taipei’s diplomatic allies to 13. EFE

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