China Sends Fighter Jets, U.S. Launches Guided-Missile Destroyer In Taiwan Strait

Ilustrasi jet tempur China. (Wikimedia Commons /U.S. Department of Defense)

JAKARTA - China is again harassing Taiwan. Earlier this week the Liaoning Aircraft Carrier Combat Group held drills near Taiwanese waters. Wednesday, it was the turn of fighter jets deployed by China to Taiwan's air defense zone.

Speaking to Reuters on Thursday, April 8, Taiwan complained of repeated military activity by China in recent months. The Chinese Air Force says it approaches Taiwan's air defense identification zone almost daily.

Taiwan's Defense Ministry said 15 Chinese aircraft, including 12 fighters, entered its air defense identification zone, with anti-submarine aircraft flying south through the Bashi Strait between Taiwan and the Philippines.

Taiwan's Air Force responded to this by sending aircraft to intercept and warn Chinese fighter jets, the ministry added. The United States as an ally of Taiwan does not stay silent.

The United States Navy announced the guided-missile destroyer, USS John. S. McCain made a 'routine' stop in the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday. This is the fourth time the ship has docked in Taiwan since it first docked on February 4.

China's Eastern Theater Command said it had tracked the ship and denounced the United States for jeopardizing the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait.

Speaking earlier in the day, Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said the United States was concerned about the risk of conflict.

"From my limited understanding of American decision-makers observing developments in the region, they clearly see the danger of China possibly launching an attack on Taiwan", he told reporters.

"We are willing to defend ourselves without question and we will fight if we need to fight. And if we need to defend ourselves until the last day, we will defend ourselves until the last day", he said.

Wu said Taiwan is determined to improve its military capabilities and spend more on defense.

"Taiwan's defense is our responsibility. We will try everything we can to improve our defense capabilities", he said.

Regarding China's aircraft carrier combat group, neither China nor Taiwan stated where the group's position was. However, Taiwan's Deputy Defense Minister Chang Che-ping told parliament that China's aircraft carrier movement was followed. While another source said the group of ships were still near the Japanese islands.

In Washington, U.S. State Department Spokesman Ned Price said the United States is concerned about China's pattern of intimidation efforts in the region, including against Taiwan. He also stressed that the Commitment of the United States to Taiwan is very strong.

"As reflected in the Taiwan Relations Act, the United States maintains the capacity to resist forced attempts, or other forms of coercion, that would jeopardize the security or social or economic systems of people in Taiwan", Price said.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment on Wu's statement. China says its activities around Taiwan are aimed at protecting China's sovereignty.

The plan is that Taiwan's Defense Ministry will hold war simulation exercises with the help of electronic devices to deal with Chinese attacks. Taiwan also plans to hold live-fire drills and anti-landing drills, to take place in July, when hospitals will practice dealing with mass casualties.

"The exercises are designed based on the toughest enemy threats, which simulates all possible scenarios of an enemy invasion in Taiwan", said Major General Liu Yu-Ping.