148 Chinese Warplanes Enter Its Air Defense Zone, Taiwan Prioritizes Armed Forces Modernization

Taiwan air defense identification zone map. (Wikimedia Commons/Maximilian Dörrbecker)

JAKARTA - Taiwan needs to increase vigilance followed by modernization of its weapons, after hundreds of Chinese warplanes entered its air defense identification zone (ADIZ).

Taiwan needs to be wary of China's excessive military activity, violating regional peace, Premier Su Tseng-chang said on Tuesday, after 56 Chinese aircraft entered Taiwan's air defense zone on Monday, the highest ever.

Taiwan reported 148 Chinese air force aircraft in the south and southwest of its air defense zone, for the fourth day in a row since Friday, October 1, coinciding with the 72nd National Day of the Bamboo Curtain Country.

Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory, which must be taken by force if necessary. Meanwhile, Taipei said they are an independent country and will defend their freedom and democracy.

Taiwan calls China's repeated military activities nearby a 'grey zone', designed to undermine Taiwan's power by making them repeatedly scramble and also to test Taiwan's response.

"Taiwan must be vigilant. China is getting on top. The world has also seen China's repeated violations of regional peace and pressure on Taiwan," Su said, citing Reuters on Oct. 5, adding Taiwan needs to strengthen itself and unite as one.

"Only then, countries that want to annex Taiwan do not dare to easily use force. Only when we help ourselves can others help us," he said.

Meanwhile, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has made modernizing the armed forces a priority, focusing on the use of new mobile weapons, to make any attack carried out by China as expensive as possible.

Separately, the United States, Taiwan's main military supplier, has described China's increased military activity near the island as destabilizing, reaffirming its firm commitment to Taiwan.

In a sign of the tense atmosphere, security sources confirmed reports in Taiwanese media, a Chinese fighter pilot responded to radio warnings to fly on Sunday with shouts of expletives. China's Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Meanwhile, Japan also considered on Tuesday saying it is observing the situation closely and hopes that Taiwan and China can resolve their differences through talks.

"Japan believes it is very important for the situation around Taiwan to be peaceful and stable," Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said in Tokyo.

"In addition, instead of just monitoring the situation, we hope to consider various possible scenarios that may arise to consider what options we have, as well as the preparations we have to make," continued Motegi.

Taiwan has lived under the threat of invasion since the defeated Republic of China government fled to the island in 1949, after losing a civil war to the Communists. No peace treaty or ceasefire has ever been signed by either side.