Violence and atrocities : tension

Sunday, September 4, 2022

China warns America of "counter-measures" following huge arms sale to Taiwan

The Biden administration approved a huge arms sale to Taiwan. China is seeing red. It has warned the United States of "counter-measures" following the approval of the arms sales to Taiwan. An official of the Chinese embassy said China was "firmly opposed" to the sales. It feels such an action will "severely jeopardize China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait." Washington should take action to revoke them immediately. The proposed arms sale includes anti-ship and air-to-air missiles. The State Department explained that the sales are in conformity with a longstanding US policy of providing defensive weapons to Taiwan and described the "swift provision" of such arms as being "essential for Taiwan's security." China, on its part, accused the US of interfering in what it sees as its internal affairs. Taiwan is a self-governing democracy but China claims it to be a part of its territory. It has also vowed to "reunify" the island with the Chinese mainland. They want to do it forcibly, if necessary. China warns of 'counter-measures' as US approves $1.1bn arms sales to Taiwan.

Tensions between the United States and China have increased after spiked the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan last month. China had warned Pelosi against making the trip but she went ahead with the visit. China responded by ordering military drills around the island after her departure. As to the latest arms sale to it, Taiwan expressed thanks to the US government. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the country’s determination to defend itself is extremely firm. Incidentally, Taiwan's military recently shot down a drone that was hovering over one of its island outposts just off the Chinese coast on Thursday. Subsequently, Taiwan had to take action to warn off drones hovering over three of the islands it occupies off the coast of the Chinese port city of Xiamen.

Friday, September 2, 2022

Taiwan shoots down civilian drone near China

Tension between Taiwan and China heightens as Taiwan shit down a drone off the coast of China. It flew over a Taiwanese-controlled island. Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang described it as an appropriate action in spite of repeated warnings. It seems the unidentified civilian drone entered the airspace of Taiwan. The incident happened near the outlying Kinmen islands very close to Xiamen city of China. Taiwan’s military confirms that it shot down the drone after it entered restricted airspace near the tiny Shiyu (Lion) islet. It later crashed into the sea. The Premier of Taiwan told media persons that Taiwan had repeatedly issued warnings and “asked them not to encroach on our doorstep.” However, they ignored the warnings. As a result, the military shot it down in self-defense. The Premier added that China should exercise restraint. In his words - “We will never provoke, and we will do the most appropriate thing to protect our land and our people.” Taiwan premier says drone shot down near China was ‘appropriate’. The foreign ministry of China accused Taiwan of trying to increase tension.

The Kinmen Defense Command mentioned that in spite of firing flares and warning shots, the drone maintained its position. The drone was meant for “civilian” use. There is no mention of its recovery or how it was brought own. Taiwan occupies three of the islands off the coast of the Chinese port city of Xiamen. Incidents of drones hovering over these islands had increased. The Taiwanese military says there have been hundreds of aerial incursions by Chinese military aircraft into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone. These have taken place so far this year. Tension between Taipei and Beijing went up following the recent visit of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi. China responded by conducting live-fire military drills for more than a week in the waters around the island. President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan gave orders to the military to take “strong countermeasures” against what she termed Chinese provocations.