Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense announced Thursday that Chinese aircraft and warships conducted their first combat patrols around Taiwan in the new year.
On Tuesday, the leader of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, gave a New Year’s speech in which the topic of Taiwan came up.
– People on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family. The politician said on state television CCTV that no one can stop the historic trend towards national unity.
Mr. Xi emphasized the need for such ties. He warned that the Chinese government would not allow anyone to sever “family ties” with the island.
Reuters recalls that Xi’s speech last year struck a similar tone, saying people on both sides of the strait should be “united by a sense of common purpose and the glory of China’s rebirth.”
Tensions between Taipei and Beijing have increased significantly since then, particularly after Lai Chingde, a strong supporter of the island’s independence, won the presidential election in May.
China. Xi Jinping emphasizes the need for “unification” with Taiwan
On December 26, the first computer wargame predicting military escalation in the conflict with China was launched in Taiwan. The exercise simulates a variety of scenarios, including China’s intense military operations in the “gray zone” (one step before war, editor), and a situation where Taiwan is “on the brink of conflict” to assess its readiness. I tested it. Reactions of Taiwanese Government Agencies and Society – An anonymous representative of Taiwan’s security forces said:
Two weeks ago, Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense announced the number of Chinese vessels and other information. The coast guard deployment near the island is the largest since a major Chinese military exercise in 1996.
See also: Russia and China are growing closer. Koreans responded to joint patrol
The Chinese Communist Party authorities recognize democratically-ruled Taiwan as part of their territory and aim to effectively control it. Beijing has declared that it prefers to achieve unification through “peaceful means” but has not ruled out the use of force. In recent years, China has increased military pressure on the island, regularly dispatching fighter jets and ships.
Taiwan has earmarked a record $19 billion for defense spending in 2024, and next year’s defense budget is expected to decline by 6%. The rate has become even higher due to increasing threats to the island’s security.
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