China re-entered Taiwan’s aerial identification zone on Thursday, the same day that Russia invaded Ukraine – a war closely watched in Taipei, due to its similarity to the Taiwan issue.
Taiwan — an island that in practice has an autonomous government, but which China considers a rebel province — has been denouncing for two years incursions that it considers illegal in the Taiwanese Adiz (Air Defense Identification Zone, its acronym in English), even though the aircraft do not get to fly over the island.
On Thursday, the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense said that there were nine Chinese aircraft in the air defense zone: a Y-8 reconnaissance aircraft and eight J-16 fighter jets, which flew over an area northeast of the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands in the from southern China.
The number is well below the last large-scale incursion on January 23, when 39 Chinese aircraft were identified in the Taiwanese defense zone. Since then, flights have happened more sporadically and with fewer planes.
Taipei sent Taiwanese fighter jets to fend off Chinese aircraft and installed air missiles to “monitor activities”, the ministry said.
Taiwan has been cautiously watching the Ukraine crisis, fearful that China will try to take advantage of the war to attack the island. Although the government has not reported any unusual movements by Chinese forces, the government has raised its alert level.
China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control and condemns US arms sales and other shows of support from Washington.
On Thursday, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Tan Kefei reiterated that Taiwan is a “core issue” for China and would not tolerate foreign interference. “We urge the US to recognize the high sensitivity of the Taiwan issue, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs and stop playing with fire,” he said.
The Taiwan issue dates back to 1949, when the Communist Party seized power in mainland China, and nationalists from the defeated Kuomintang fled to the island. The conflict was never resolved, and Taiwan officially designates itself as the Republic of China — as opposed to the mainland of the People’s Republic of China.
Over the decades, nationalist sentiment has grown, and today 75% of Taiwanese say they consider the country independent, according to the Taiwan National Security Survey. Although this happens in practice – there are free elections, its own currency and a Constitution – the island has no seat at the UN and is considered by China as a rebel province to be re-annexed.
In China’s air raids over the island in January, the country’s president compared the situation to the Ukrainian issue. “Taiwan has faced military threats and intimidation from China for a long time. Therefore, we empathize with Ukraine’s situation and support efforts by all sides to maintain regional security,” said Tsai Ing-wen.
