Chinese military air manoeuvres prompt concern in Taiwan

Taipei, June 16, (dpa/GNA) – China sent 28 military planes into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ) on Tuesday, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said, adding it was the largest ever such intrusion.

The number of Chinese military planes which flew into Taiwan’s ADIZ on Tuesday apparently exceeded the previous record on April 12, of 25 aircraft.

The Chinese operation was conducted just days after the G7 summit underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues.

On Wednesday, Taiwan’s state-run Central News Agency (CNA) reported Pentagon spokesman John Supple as saying that Beijing’s increasing military activities near Taiwan were destabilizing.

Supple said that the peace, safety and stability in the Indo-Pacific region were in the US’ interests, CNA reported.

Taiwan has had an independent government since 1949, but China considers the self-governing democratic island part of its territory.
GNA