Space Travel News
TAIWAN NEWS
Taiwan detects 62 Chinese aircraft as US ships transit waters
Taiwan detects 62 Chinese aircraft as US ships transit waters
by AFP Staff Writers
Taipei (AFP) Feb 12, 2025

Taiwan said Wednesday it detected 62 Chinese military aircraft near the self-ruled island this week, as two US ships sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait.

The United States and its allies regularly transit the 180-kilometre (112-mile) Taiwan Strait to reinforce its status as an international waterway, angering Beijing.

Beijing has never ruled Taiwan, but it claims the democratic island as part of its territory and has threatened to bring it under its control by force.

Taipei said the US ships travelled from north to south "starting from February 10".

China's People's Liberation Army said Wednesday it had monitored the passage of the US destroyer and the ocean survey ship.

"This US action sent the wrong signal and increased security risks," Li Xi, a senior colonel and spokesman for China's Eastern Theatre Command, said in a statement.

Taiwan's defence ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang dismissed the criticism and said Taipei supported the freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait.

"Regarding the situation around the Taiwan Strait, there is no need for me to elaborate further on who is the so-called troublemaker," he told reporters Wednesday.

"All neighbouring countries should have a very deep understanding of this".

Washington's latest passage through the Taiwan Strait was the first time since US President Donald Trump took office in January.

It came after Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Friday they "opposed any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo (in the Taiwan Strait) by force or coercion".

Data published by the Taiwan defence ministry showed 62 Chinese military aircraft were detected near the island in the 48 hours to 6:00 am local time on Wednesday, coinciding with the US ships' transit.

"We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly," the ministry said in a statement.

Taiwan is a potential flashpoint for a war between China and the United States, which is the island's most important backer and biggest arms supplier.

In recent years, Beijing has ramped up political and military pressure on Taipei to accept its sovereignty claims, and staged multiple rounds of large-scale war games since President Lai Ching-te took office in May.

A record 153 aircraft were reported on October 15 after China staged large-scale military drills in response to Lai's National Day speech days earlier.

A week after China's drills, a US and a Canadian warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait separating the island and China.

Related Links
Taiwan News at SinoDaily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
TAIWAN NEWS
Taiwan bans government agencies from using DeepSeek
Taipei (AFP) Feb 1, 2025
Taiwan has banned workers in the public sector and at key infrastructure facilities from using DeepSeek, saying it was a Chinese product and could endanger national security. DeepSeek launched its R1 chatbot last month, claiming it matches the capacity of artificial intelligence pace-setters in the United States for a fraction of the investment. Countries including South Korea, Ireland, France, Australia and Italy have raised questions about the Chinese AI startup's data practices. Taiwan's ... read more

TAIWAN NEWS
TAIWAN NEWS
Texas A&M scholar secures NASA funding to examine Martian dune dynamics

New Martian Crater Reveals Far-Reaching Seismic Signals

Approaching the Red Planet from the Kitchen

Explaining persistent hydrogen in Mars atmosphere

TAIWAN NEWS
Blue Origin mission simulates moon gravity

Commercial and Military Uses of Cislunar Space

NASA Advances Pursuit of Industry Ally for VIPER Rover

NASA Tech Instrument Captures Test Images During Blue Ghost Lunar Transit

TAIWAN NEWS
NASA Juno Mission Discovers Record-Breaking Volcanic Activity on Io

SwRI models suggest Pluto and Charon formed similarly to Earth and Moon

Citizen scientists help decipher Jupiter's cloud composition

Capture theory unveils how Pluto and Charon formed as a binary system

TAIWAN NEWS
How Early Earth Supported the Formation of Polyester Protocells

Efforts to Detect Alien Life Advanced by Simple Microbe Mobility Test

Asteroid Bennu comes from a long-lost salty world with ingredients for life

IGRINS on Gemini South Detects Surprising Signatures in Dynamic Atmosphere of Exoplanet WASP-121b

TAIWAN NEWS
Reusable Rocket Development Advances in China

KAIST develops AI-driven performance prediction model to advance space electric propulsion technology

Ride completes Deep Blue mission marking new chapter in satellite launch services

European Partners Expand Ariane 6 Commitment with Arianespace

TAIWAN NEWS
Astronaut insights from mid mission aboard Tiangong

Chinese Satellite Companies Expand Global Services with Advanced Networks and Constellations

China launches additional satellites for Spacesail Constellation

Shenzhou XIX crew completes second spacewalk mission

TAIWAN NEWS
Scientists analyze asteroid collision impact on climate and ecosystems

A 'city-killer' asteroid might hit Earth -- how worried should we be?

A 'city-killer' asteroid might hit Earth -- how worried should we be?

Rochester's Kevin Righter kept NASA space rocks free from contamination

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.