TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The US representative office in Taiwan said it views increased Chinese military activity around Taiwan in recent days consistent with patterns seen over the last several years, rather than being a response to President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) recent US transits.
"Although the PRC has not announced a 'Joint Sword' military exercise in response to President Lai's transit, PRC military activity is elevated in the region, consistent with levels we have seen during other large exercises," a spokesperson for the American Institute in Taiwan said Thursday, per Reuters.
"The elevated activity in the East China Sea and South China Sea follows a broader increase in the PLA's military posture and military exercises over the last several years. With that said, we do not see this wider activity as a response to President Lai's transit," the US spokesperson added.
The spokesperson said the US calls on China to avoid taking actions that escalate regional tensions.
Taiwan’s defense ministry tracked 34 Chinese military aircraft and 16 naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Wednesday and 6 a.m. on Thursday. Twenty-two of the aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line.
Taiwan’s defense ministry said Monday it was on high alert and reported a large increase in Chinese military activity around Taiwan and the East and South China Seas on Tuesday. The increased activity was reported after Lai returned from a tour of Pacific allies that included stopovers in Hawaii and Guam.