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Taipei’s Ministry of Defense announced that it had spotted seven Chinese aircraft and an equal number of naval vessels around Taiwan in the past 24 hours.
On the eve of Lai Ching-de’s inauguration as Taiwan’s new president, the island’s coast guard stepped up patrols over the weekend amid an increased presence of Chinese vessels.
Taipei’s Coast Guard Bureau announced on Sunday that it had dispatched officers to “patroll day and night” around Taiwan’s three main remote islands: Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu.
“To ensure maritime security and border security during the inauguration ceremony, the Coast Guard Bureau of the Maritime Affairs Council Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu divisions once again carried out strong patrol operations…to closely monitor suspicious targets.” the paper said. statement.
It added: “The Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu bureaus said that national security efforts will not slacken during the important celebrations.”
Taipei’s Ministry of National Defense earlier reported that it detected seven Chinese aircraft and seven naval vessels around Taiwan in the 24 hours ending at 6 a.m. Sunday (10 p.m. Saturday Japan time).
Lai spent Sunday shrimping with leaders of Taiwan’s few remaining diplomatic allies, including Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine.
Currently, only 12 countries maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, most of them poor and developing countries.
Mr Lai, hated by Beijing as a “separatist”, is expected to pledge in his inaugural address on Monday to ensure stability by maintaining the status quo in relations between China and the island.
Ahead of the inauguration ceremony, supporters of the opposition Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) are planning to march in Taipei to protest Lai’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DP) and call for reforms to the parliament, judiciary, and constitution. I am requesting that.
“Dangerous Separatist”
China claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and maintains a near-daily military presence, with fighter jets, drones and naval vessels frequently appearing around the island.
In recent months, China has dispatched coast guard vessels around Kinmen Island, a remote island controlled by the city of Taipei, just 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Chinese city of Xiamen.
Tensions have been high in Kinmen since Lai, who China labeled a “dangerous separatist,” won Taiwan’s general election in January.
A fatal fishing accident involving a Chinese high-speed boat in February sparked a dispute between China and Taiwan that has not yet been resolved.
The vessel, carrying four passengers, capsized near Kinmen on February 14 while being pursued by Taiwan’s coast guard, killing two.
Taipei’s coast guard defended its actions, saying the boat was in “prohibited waters” and zigzagging before capsizing. However, the Chinese government accused Taipei of “hiding the truth” about the incident.
Since then, China has stepped up patrols around Kinmen Island. At least five formations of Chinese government vessels briefly sailed through Kinmen Island’s restricted waters this month.
Across the strait in the Chinese coastal city of Pingtan, which also has a military base, reporters saw at least two military transport helicopters fly overhead on Sunday morning, AFP reported. I told him.
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