World War 3: Chinese airforce ENCIRCLES Taiwan after diplomat ‘threatens US with INVASION’
CHINA has conducted “island encirclement patrols” near Taiwan after a senior Chinese diplomat threatened invasion if the state tries to gain independence or a US warship visits the island, it has been revealed.
By MATT DRAKE
Express.co.uk
Tue, Dec 12, 2017
Numerous Chinese fighter jets, bombers, and surveillance aircraft conducted “routine” and “planned” distant sea patrols on Monday to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Air Force spokesman Shen Jinke said.
China’s military confirmed the military action on Tuesday.
The aircraft flew over the Miyako Strait in Japan’s south and the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines to “test real combat capabilities”, Shen said.
The fighters include H-6K bombers, Su-30 fighters, J-11 fighters, surveillance, alert and refuelling aircraft.
Taiwan Defence Minister Feng Shih-kuan said in a statement they had dispatched aircraft and ships to monitor the activity of the Chinese military.
He added that the drills were not unusual and people should not be alarmed.
China has conducted similar patrols a number of times near Taiwan this year.
They claim such practices have been normalised as it presses ahead with a military modernisation programme that includes building aircraft carriers and stealth fighters to give it the ability to project power far from its shores.
China considers Taiwan to be a wayward province and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under its control.
The Anti-Secession law allows China to use force on Taiwan if deemed necessary to prevent the island from gaining independence.
Beijing regularly calls Taiwan the most sensitive and important issue between it and the United States.
Although the United States has no formal ties with Taiwan it is bound by law to help it defend itself and is its main source of arms.
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