The United States on Sunday expressed grave concern over China’s increased military activity near Taiwan, in the wake of Beijing’s deployment of a record number of military aircraft in Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) for three consecutive days.
“The United States is very concerned by the People’s Republic of China’s provocative military activity near Taiwan, which is destabilizing, risks miscalculations, and undermines regional peace and stability,” said U.S. State Department Spokesperson Ned Price.
“We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure and coercion against Taiwan,” he added.
The spokesman reiterated Washington’s stance that it will continue to assist Taipei in maintaining a sufficient self-defense capability, based on commitments outlined in the Three Communiqués, the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances.
“The U.S. commitment to Taiwan is rock solid and contributes to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and within the region. We will continue to stand with friends and allies to advance our shared prosperity, security, and values and deepen our ties with democratic Taiwan,” he stressed.
A total of 93 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft entered Taiwan’s ADIZ from Friday to Sunday.
On Saturday the PLA sent 39 aircraft into Taiwan’s ADIZ, the largest intrusion since September 2020, when Taiwan’s government began issuing reports of such actions.
Local defense experts have said the large-scale incursions are a demonstration to Taiwan and the U.S. of the PLA’s joint combat capabilities and its ability to quickly assemble assets from different units.
The last time the U.S. State Department issued a statement expressing concern over the PLA’s military coercion of Taiwan was on Jan. 23 not long after President Joe Biden assumed office.
The ADIZ is an area declared by a country to allow it to identify, locate and control approaching foreign aircraft, but such zones are not considered territorial airspace and have no basis in international law.
In response, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) expressed the nation’s gratitude for the U.S. statement, while stressing that Taiwan will continue to boost its self-defense capabilities to safeguard its democratic system, peace and prosperity.
Taiwan will also continue to work closely with the U.S. and other like-minded countries to jointly defend the rules-based international order and promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, according to MOFA.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel
