Taiwan said a record 28 Chinese military aircraft including fighter jets and nuclear capable bombers flew into its defence zone on Tuesday, as Beijing hit out at international criticism of its military posturing.

The incursion came a day after NATO said China's increasingly aggressive military goals threatened international order -- and after G7 leaders issued a landmark statement urging peace in the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan's defence ministry said it scrambled its own aircraft to broadcast warnings and deployed missile batteries to track the Chinese jets after they entered the island's southwest Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ).

The flights occurred the same day Beijing accused NATO of exaggerating the threat from China and "creating confrontation" after a vow from the Western allies to work together to counter the "systemic challenges" posed by its policies.

NATO leaders made the commitment on Monday, as US President Joe Biden renewed Washington's transatlantic ties at his first summit with the allies.

In a broad statement of intent, the leaders said China's increasingly assertive actions in building a nuclear arsenal and space and cyber warfare capabilities threatened the international order.

Democratic and self-ruled Taiwan lives under the constant threat of invasion by China, which has vowed to one day seize the island, by force if needed.

The two sides are separated by the narrow Taiwan Strait and some Chinese jets had crossed over the de facto border or so-called "median line" of the strait in previous incursions.

The sabre-rattling has increased dramatically since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen -- who rejects the idea the island is part of "one China".

Some analysts and US military officials have warned tensions between Taiwan and China are now at their highest since the mid-1990s.

The previous biggest incursion was in April when 25 Chinese jets breached the island's ADIZ after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China not to attempt to change the status quo of Taiwan, saying to do so would be a "serious mistake".

Related Links
Taiwan News at SinoDaily.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Biden official speaks to Taiwan minister on trade ties
Washington (AFP) June 10, 2021
President Joe Biden's administration held virtual talks Thursday with a Taiwanese minister on boosting commercial ties, after China warned the United States against pursuing a trade deal. US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, a member of Biden's cabinet, spoke to minister without portfolio John Deng on "the importance of the US-Taiwan trade and investment relationship," a US statement said. Tai committed to holding talks "in the coming weeks" of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement Coun ... read more