New Delhi: According to officials, the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army dispatched a total of 33 aircraft, including SU-30 fighters, from 6 a.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday. Additionally, six Chinese navy vessels were spotted heading towards Taiwan, with 13 warplanes breaching the median of the Taiwan Strait. Taiwanese authorities are actively monitoring the situation, reported the Associated Press.Diplomatic talks amid escalating tensionsThe escalation comes shortly after Senior U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi agreed to hold discussions in Bangkok. Sullivan confirmed the conclusion of the talks on Saturday evening, following a two-day meeting with Director Wang Yi. A post shared online depicted Sullivan and Wang exchanging handshakes, indicating diplomatic engagement between the two nations.National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson highlighted that the meeting between Sullivan and Wang underscores the commitment of both nations to maintain strategic communication and manage the bilateral relationship responsibly.Recent incidents, responsesThe developments follow recent confrontations between Chinese and American military vessels. In June 2023, the USS Chung-Hoon reported an unsafe manoeuvre by a Chinese navy ship in the Taiwan Strait. The incident involved the Chinese vessel abruptly crossing the path of the American destroyer, compelling the USS Chung-Hoon to decelerate to avert a collision.In response, the Chinese government accused the U.S. Navy of causing trouble and provocation by navigating a warship through the Taiwan Strait, further heightening tensions between the two superpowers.US Navy releases footage of a destroyer cut off by a Chinese warship in the Taiwan Strait, calls it an unsafe interaction.pic.twitter.com/gPP2oiL7Ya— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) June 5, 2023❗️🇨🇳🇺🇸⛴️The abrupt maneuver of the Chinese warship, which came close to the US destroyer at high speed, was caught on video. The footage was posted by Global News TV channel.The Chinese warship approached the US Navy destroyer in the Taiwan Strait at less than 150 meters. The… pic.twitter.com/1VwR7H7rK0— Zlatti71 (@djuric_zlatko) June 4, 2023Taiwans response, defence measuresOn January 17, Taiwans Ministry of National Defense detected 18 sorties of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aircraft, with 11 of them crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait. In response, the Taiwanese Armed Forces intensified surveillance and reconnaissance measures and deployed mission aircraft, warships, and missile systems to address the situation effectively.The Defence Ministry reiterated the importance of regional stability and collective responsibility in safeguarding the Taiwan Strait, emphasizing the need for all stakeholders to contribute to global peace and security. It affirmed Taiwans commitment to enhancing self-defence capabilities in response to regional threats and evolving security challenges.
