In the leadup to Taiwan’s presidential and legislative elections of January 13, the Chinese Communist Party stepped up its pressure on Taiwan, in part by periodically almost invading the smaller country by slinging more and more military ships and military planes, also balloons, almost all the way across the Taiwan Strait. Or, in the case of the balloons, all the way across.
In the aftermath of the election, the CCP is keeping it up. A visit by a couple of US congressmen is the latest causus belli virtualis.
Deutsche Welle reports (January 26, 2024):
Beijing has sent 33 fighter jets and a group of six naval vessels toward Taiwan, the island’s Defense Ministry said on Saturday, adding that Taiwan responded by deploying its own forces.
The number of daily warplane deployments marked a new high since Taiwan held its democratic presidential and legislative elections on January 13.
The increased military pressure from Beijing came as two US Congressmen wrapped up a three-day visit to Taiwan on Friday. Ami Bera and Mario Diaz-Balart had come as the first official US delegation since the election of William Lai Ching-te as Taiwan’s new president.
13 of the 33 Chinese fighter jets crossed the unofficial median line in the Taiwan Strait that separates Taiwan and China, the ministry said.
Moreover, the ministry reported that two Chinese balloons crossed the line and then disappeared while flying to the northern and southern parts of the island.
A big country’s obnoxious military intimidation of a nearby little country can continue and be progressively intensified for only so long. Eventually, wouldn’t there likely be a tipping point? A point at which pretending to be about to invade turns into actually being about to invade? Be ready, Taiwan.
