The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) buzzed the Republic of Taiwan with fighter jets and naval ships in an act of aggression on April 7, stirring fears the communist regime may soon attempt to invade the democratic and independent island nation.
According to reports from Taiwan News, CCP People’ Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) reconnaissance ships, along with a missile frigate, the Yuncheng, was spotted off the coast of Orchid Island, while the PLA sent 15 aircraft, including 12 fighter jets, into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone.
The aggression appears to come in response to missile tests conducted by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCIST) scheduled from April 7 to 9 in the Orchid Island and Green Island regions. The NCIST says it will conduct an additional set of missile tests on April 13 to 16 between Jiupeng Air Force Base and Orchid Island.
An April 6 article by AP said the PLAN was holding navy drills including the Liaoning, one of its two aircraft carriers, near Taiwan. The Communist Party claims the drills are routine and part of an annual schedule.
Republic of Taiwan is prepared to battle the red dragon until the end
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According to an April 6 report by Reuters, Thomas Wu, Taiwan Foreign Minister, said the United States was concerned about Beijing’s stance, “From my limited understanding of American decision makers watching developments in this region, they clearly see the danger of the possibility of China launching an attack against Taiwan.”
Wu also said Taiwan was ready and willing to put all its chips in the pot to defend from assimilation to Communism, “We are willing to defend ourselves without any questions and we will fight the war if we need to fight the war.”
“And if we need to defend ourselves to the very last day we will defend ourselves to the very last day.”
In response to China’s posturing, the United States sent one of its 11 aircraft carriers, the USS Theodore Rosevelt, into the South China Sea, claiming its presence was to “conduct routine operations.”
In August of 2020, the U.S. approved a sale of 66 F-16 Vipers to Taiwan as part of an arms package including upgraded missiles. The jets were to be manufactured by Lockheed Martin at the South Carolina and Texas plants.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said his country had “great concern” about the CCP’s military intimidation, calling the United States’ commitment to Taiwan sovereignty “rock solid.”
“As reflected in the Taiwan Relations Act, the United States maintains the capacity to resist any resort to force, or other forms of coercion, that would jeopardize the security or the social or economic system of the people on Taiwan,” said Price, according to Reuters.
On April 7, the U.S. Navy also sent in the USS John S. McCain Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer to the Taiwan Strait.
“The ship’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The United States military will continue to fly, sail, and operate anywhere international law allows,” said the Navy in a Statement.
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