China has sparked fears from Taiwan after reportedly conducting live fire exercises without warning near the island.
It is on high alert as Xi Jinping aims for a “reunification” of the territories, which “no one can stop”, as the Chinese President said in his new year speech.
Now, Taiwan authorities have said that 32 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft of “various types”, including J-11 and KJ-500, were detected from 8.50am local time today.
Ministry of National Defence officials added: “Out of which, 22 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the northern and southwestern ADIZ in conducting air-sea joint training along with PLAN vessels.”
It is also claimed that the PLA has “blatantly violated international norms by unilaterally designating a drill zone 40 NM off the coast of Kaohsiung and Pingtung, claiming to conduct live-fire exercises without prior warning”.
Taiwanese armed forces have “monitored the situation and responded”.
Western leaders remain concerned that Xi may launch a full-scale invasion of Taiwan after Vladimir Putin‘s attempt to occupy Ukraine.
China has been sending fighter jets and warships “nearly every day” to probe Taiwan’s defences, the New York Times reports.
The island’s president, Lai Ching-te has announced an increase in military spending after Donald Trump‘s retaking of the White House.
He also said Taiwan would devise proposals in response to Trump’s demand that more semiconductor fabrication plants are built in the US.
Meanwhile, it is thought that the US President’s stance on Ukraine has raised concerns China might become emboldened to invade its neighbour.
But experts say that Beijing is most likely currently waiting and seeing to see how the situation in Europe unfolds, AP reports.
Trump has falsely claimed in recent weeks that Ukraine “should have never started the war,” and called the country’s democratically elected president, Volodymyr Zelensky, a “dictator”.
This morning, it has been reported that a deal between the US and Ukraine over the latter’s natural resources has been reached.