Beijing increases military pressure on Taiwan following announcement of US-China talk

The defense ministry of Taiwan reported on Saturday that China had dispatched over thirty warplanes and a number of navy ships in the direction of the island. The military pressure follows news that top US and Chinese officials would be meeting in the Thai capital in an effort to defuse tensions. From 6 a.m. on Friday to 6 a.m. on Saturday, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army sent 33 aircraft, including SU-30 fighters, and six navy vessels around Taiwan. Thirteen of these warplanes crossed the Taiwan Strait’s midline, an unofficial border that serves as a buffer between the island and mainland. As a result of the activities, Taiwan has kept an eye on the situation and used its own forces. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory and in recent years has shown is displeasure at political activities in Taiwan by sending military planes and ships. Taiwan said six Chinese balloons either flew over the island or through airspace just north of it days after the self-governing island elected Lai Ching-te as the new president. Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party largely campaigned on self-determination, social justice and a rejection of China’s threats. United States National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi were both in Bangkok for talks, though it wasn’t clear when the meeting would take place or if it already had. U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of a summit in November in an effort to patch up frayed relations due to quarrels over a range of economic and geopolitical issues. U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the planned meeting in Bangkok continues the commitment Biden and Xi made “to maintain strategic communication and responsibly manage the relationship.” During talks, Foreign Minister Wang would make clear China’s position on Taiwan and on U.S.-China relations, and discuss international and regional concerns, ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Friday. An immediate international concern to both countries is tensions in the Red Sea that have upended global trade by forcing many shippers to avoid the Suez Canal. Beijing said it has been making positive efforts to de-escalate the situation in which Iran-backed Houthi rebels have fired missiles at international ships. (With inputs from The Associated Press)