Chinese experts defend the actions, warning of increased frequency if secessionist forces persist
Amid escalating tensions, fighter jets of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) reportedly approached the 24-nautical-mile line surrounding Taiwan on Saturday. Experts have described the move as legitimate and anticipate more frequent occurrences if “Taiwan independence” secessionist forces continue their provocative actions.
On Sunday morning, Taiwan’s defense authority released a press statement revealing the detection of 21 PLA aircraft and five PLA vessels in the vicinity of the island over the past 24 hours. The report highlighted that eight J-10 fighter jets had crossed the so-called median line of the Taiwan Straits.
The concept of the median line, which attempts to divide the Taiwan Straits, is not recognized by the Chinese mainland. The flight paths illustrated in the press release indicated that the J-10 fighter jets flew past this line from four different locations, encompassing the northern, southern, and middle regions of the Taiwan Straits, before returning to the mainland.
Taiwan’s defense authority claimed that the aircraft had approached the 24-nautical-mile line of the island, a distance previously unreported in PLA activities near Taiwan. It is worth noting that the 24-nautical-mile line refers to the contiguous zone, extending up to 24 nautical miles from the baseline, while the territorial sea can extend up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline, as explained by a Chinese mainland military expert who spoke with the Global Times anonymously.
The mainland expert emphasized that Taiwan, as an inseparable part of China, does not have the authority to utilize the concept of a contiguous zone to exaggerate perceived threats from the PLA. Therefore, it is deemed legitimate for the PLA to operate anywhere around and on the island.
Fu Qianshao, a military aviation expert from the Chinese mainland, explained that these routine PLA sorties serve as stern warnings to “Taiwan independence” secessionist forces and external interference. He emphasized that the PLA is committed to safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests.
For the past few years, the PLA has consistently conducted daily patrols and exercises involving aircraft and vessels around the island of Taiwan. Analysts predict that if “Taiwan independence” forces persist in their secessionist actions, the PLA’s activities will progressively approach the island more closely, occur more frequently, and assume a more combat-oriented nature.