27 Chinese fighter jets enter Taiwan’s air defence zone after rigidity flares over Pelosi’s go to

Twenty-seven Chinese warplanes flew into Taiwan’s air defence zone on Wednesday, Taipei stated, after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the self-governed island that Beijing considers its personal territory, AFP reported.

“27 PLA aircraft… entered the surrounding area of (Republic of China) on August 3, 2022,” the defence ministry stated in a tweet.

27 PLA plane (J-11*6, J-16*5 and SU-30*16) entered the encompassing space of R.O.C. on August 3, 2022. Please test our official web site for extra data: https://t.co/m1gW2N4ZL7 pic.twitter.com/Aw71EgmRjj

— Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. (@MoNDefense) August 3, 2022

Taiwan maintained a defiant tone throughout Pelosi’s go to whereas a livid China equipped for army workouts dangerously near the island’s shores in retaliation for the go to.

The Air protection identification zone (ADIZ) isn’t the identical as Taiwan’s territorial airspace however features a far better space that overlaps with a part of China’s personal air defence identification zone and even contains among the mainland.

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Pelosi had landed in Taiwan on Tuesday night, defying a string of more and more stark warnings and threats from China that has despatched tensions between Washington and Beijing hovering.

Pelosi, second in line to the presidency, is the highest-profile elected US official to go to Taiwan in 25 years.

CHINA, TAIWAN RESPONDS

China’s army stated it was on “high alert” and vowed “targeted military operations” in response to the go to. But Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen stated the island of 23 million wouldn’t be cowed.

“Facing deliberately heightened military threats, Taiwan will not back down. We will continue to hold the line of defence for democracy,” Tsai stated at an occasion with Pelosi in Taipei.

Before leaving Taiwan, Pelosi additionally met with a number of dissidents who’ve beforehand been within the crosshairs of China’s wrath, together with Tiananmen protest scholar chief Wu’er Kaixi, AFP reported.

Pelosi left Taiwan on Wednesday night and headed to South Korea, her subsequent cease on the Asia tour. She will head to Japan after that.

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