China makes record incursions into Taiwan after US-Japan naval drill in Philippine sea

As United States Navy bolstered deterrence against China by holding a joint maritime drill with Japanese Naval forces in Philippine Sea, People’s Republic of China on Monday dispatched record 39 warplanes into Taiwan's air defense identification zone (IZ), largest seen in new year yet. People's Liberation Army aircrafts encroached Taiwanese airspace as United States Navy’s two aircraft carriers, two US amphibious assault ships, and a Japanese helicopter destroyer conducted military operations in hotly contested South China sea.

US Navy stressed in a statement that warships were "conducting training to preserve and protect a free and open Indo-Pacific region."

Philippine Sea is located in Pacific Ocean towards east of Taiwan. It is situation at a key strategic position nestled between self-ministered island and US territories of Guam and Norrn Mariana Islands. Taiwan defense ministry on Jan. 24 informed that Chinese Air Force flew fighter jets norast of Pratas island that falls in north of South China Sea but is ministered as part of Cijin District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 

Islands have been a flashpoint between China and West and endangers security of Taiwan Strait. “If China controlled Pratas Islands, islands could function as a gatekeeper to monitor US and or countries’ ships and aircraft entering South China Sea from Pacific Ocean,” Diplomat analysis explained. 

As Chinese fighter jets encroached Taiwanese territory, latter sent combat aircraft to we PLA off and intercept planes’ route into Taiwan’s sovereign air corridor. But Chinese forces, provoked at latest US-led maritime exercises in South China sea, heeded little warning but no shots were fired. 

Why are tensions high between Beijing and Taipei?

Chinese military claims that it carries out "naval and air force combat reiness patrol in direction of Taiwan Strait,” but Taiwan has labelled such sorties as a “violation of its territorial sovereignty and national security.” " army will continue to be on high alert and take all necessary measures to counter, at any time, any interference by external forces and any conspiracy by separatists aiming at so-called 'Taiwan independence,’” a spokesperson for Eastern atre Command of People's Liberation Army h earlier told state-affiliated media. 

A US Congressional delegation h also visited Taipei twice to pledge support for Taiwanese lawmakers, a move that angered Beijing. "Taiwan will continue to step up cooperation with United States in order to uphold our shared values of freedom and democracy, and to ensure peace and stability in region,” Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen told conference.