China fired missiles into the Pacific over the Taiwan Strait and the island and sent ships and planes across the strait’s midline that had long been a buffer against outright conflict.
China fired missiles into the Pacific over the Taiwan Strait and the island and sent ships and planes across the strait’s midline that had long been a buffer against outright conflict.
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen said on September 6 that China was waging a “cognitive war” with itself by spreading misinformation. Routine intrusions into nearby water and airspace The intention is to intimidate the self-governing island.
Experts have warned that China has made substantial inroads into Taiwan’s mass media and may spread false narratives on social media and elsewhere to undermine military morale and public confidence if it tries to take control of the island. makes good on his threat to use force. as your area.
“The situation around the Taiwan Strait remains tense, and the threat has never stopped,” Ms Tsai said in a speech during a visit to an air defense and missile battalion in the eastern country of Hualien.
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“In addition to frequent incursions by Chinese planes and ships, China also waged cognitive warfare, using false information to create disturbance in the minds of the people,” the president said.
Ms Tsai also referred to China’s use of drones “to increase pressure on Taiwan’s military”, following incidents in which Taiwanese troops stationed on islands off the Chinese coast gave warnings and, in one case, unmanned aerial vehicles. Vehicles were shot down which were hovering over their positions.
Anti-drone protection is included in the 12.9% increase in Taiwan’s budget for next year. The increase would increase total spending to $13.8 billion, or about 2.4% of GDP.
Taiwan on Tuesday began military exercises on the Hengchun Peninsula in the far south of the island, simulating a ground combat against an invading enemy, assisted by Apache attack helicopters.
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As well as boosting Taiwan’s high-tech economy, Tsai has made strengthening the island’s security a key feature during her second and last four-year term. This includes growing the domestic defense industry as well as buying more weapons from the US, including fighter jets and missiles, to counter Chinese attacks or blockade attempts.
on Friday, Biden Administration Announces Sales of $1.09 BillionThe State Department said $355 million for the Harpoon air-to-sea missiles and $85 million for the Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.
The biggest part of the sale, however, is a $655 million logistics support package for Taiwan’s surveillance radar program, which provides air defense warnings. As China has intensified military exercises near Taiwan, early warning air defense systems have become more important.
Tensions have been running high since Ms Tsai’s early 2016 election and US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei last month. China fired missiles into the Pacific over the Taiwan Strait and the island and sent ships and planes across the strait’s midline that had long been a buffer against outright conflict.
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Since Ms Pelosi’s visit to Taipei, there have been at least two other congressional visits and by governors of several US states, which have been condemned by China. The US also sent a pair of guided missile cruisers through the strait, defying China’s claims that the waterway, one of the busiest in the world, belongs entirely to it.
Responding to the US arms sales on Tuesday, China’s Defense Ministry accused Washington of “harassing” Washington, saying, “We demand that the US side immediately withdraw the above arms sale plan to Taiwan and Immediately end military relations between the United States and Taiwan.
The ministry said in a statement posted on its website, “The Chinese People’s Liberation Army continues to train and prepare for the war, and has completely thwarted any interference by outside forces and separatist ‘Taiwan independence’ conspiracies.” Will give.”