Chinese military aircraft, vessels cross into Taiwanese space in latest threat of force

Chinese military aircraft and vessels invaded Taiwan’s airspace and waters yet again early Wednesday in what has become a near daily show of intimidation against the island nation. 

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said four Chinese military aircraft and three Chinese naval vessels were detected around 6 a.m. local time. 

Taiwan’s armed forces are monitoring the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond to China’s activities, the Defense Ministry said. 

An incursion by China into Taiwan has been an almost daily occurrence for weeks as tensions between the two nations ramp up. 

TAIWANESE PRESIDENT TSAI ING-WEN STATES WAR WITH CHINA IS ‘ABSOLUTELY NOT AN OPTION’

Taiwan split from the mainland in 1949 after a civil war and have no official relations but are linked by billions of dollars in trade and investment. 

The Chinese Communist Party regularly flies fighter planes and bombers near Taiwan to enforce its stance that the island is obliged to unite with the mainland – by force if necessary. 

Tensions escalated after then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi of the U.S. House of Representatives in August became the highest-ranking American official to visit the island in 25 years. 

Lai Ching-te, who currently serves as Taiwan’s vice president and has assumed the new role of the ruling Democratic Progress Party, vowed to uphold the self-ruled island’s democracy in the face of China’s authoritarianism. 

“Facing China’s threat in the future, our new mission is to guard Taiwan, promoting Taiwan’s democracy, peace and prosperity,” Lai said. “Peace is something everyone hopes for.” 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.