China escalates military presence as Taiwan's new president takes office
5:54 AM EDT, May 25, 2024, updated: 10:33 AM EDT, May 25, 2024
On Saturday, the Taiwanese defense ministry reported that China directed 62 military aircraft towards the island. This is the most significant number of aircraft Beijing has sent towards Taiwan in a single day since the beginning of this year.
According to information provided by the defense department in Taipei, "47 [Chinese military aircraft] crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered the northern, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern air defense identification zone (ADIZ)".
The situation occurred just three days after the inauguration of the new president of Taiwan. On Thursday, China began two-day military maneuvers around the island. The purpose of these exercises was to simulate a blockade of Taiwan.
On Saturday, authorities in Beijing announced the completion of the exercises codenamed "Joint Sword-2024A". The statement mentioned that the Chinese military "successfully concluded" the maneuvers.
China's communist authorities maintain that Taiwan is an integral part of their territory.
The newly inaugurated president of Taiwan, democratically elected on Monday, Lai Ching-te, is described by China as a "dangerous separatist." According to Beijing, he will bring "war and collapse" to the island.
