Monday was the fourth straight day of Chinese military flights in Taiwan’s air defence zone, prompting Taipei to urge Beijing to stop ‘irresponsible provocative actions’.
According to the BBC, some analysts say the flights – involving almost 150 aircraft – could be seen as a warning to Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, ahead of the island’s national day.
While Beijing views Taiwan as a breakaway province, democratic Taiwan sees itself as a sovereign state.
The latest Chinese mission included 34 J-16 fighters and 12 nuclear-capable H-6 bombers, which all flew in an area near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands, according to the Taiwanese government.
Four more Chinese fighters were spotted late on Monday, taking the total to 56 aircraft in one day.
The BBC reported that Taiwan’s top China policy-making body, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), accused Beijing of ‘seriously damaging the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait’.
MAC spokesman Chiu Chui-cheng said in a statement: ‘We demand the Beijing authorities immediately stop its non-peaceful and irresponsible provocative actions.’ He added: ‘China is the culprit for causing tensions between the two sides of the (Taiwan) Strait and it has further threatened regional security and order.’ He said Taiwan ‘will never compromise and yield’ to threats.
Beijing has accused Washington of being the provocateurs, and has warned against supporting Taiwanese independence.
‘Engaging in Taiwan independence is a dead end. China will take all steps needed and firmly smash any Taiwan independence plots,’ China said.