Taiwan Claims Ten Chinese Aircraft Crossed Strait Median Line
The Facts
Taiwan's defense minister on Saturday sent combat aircraft to warn away nine Chinese fighter jets and one military drone that crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait in the 24 hours to 6am, while Taiwanese missile systems monitored them.
This latest incursion comes a day after nine Chinese aircraft crossed the unofficial median line buffer between the mainland and the island, reportedly carrying out combat readiness patrols.
The Spin
Pro-China narrative
The island of Taiwan has been an integral part of the Chinese territory for centuries. However, the Chinese people on both sides of the Straits are yet to be reunified following the 1949 split. Beijing has long sought to peacefully reunify the motherland, but secessionist Taiwanese officials backed by the US have recently begun to pursue provocative actions that are threatening the status quo. Given the current political climate, the PRC will take all necessary measures to achieve this goal.
Anti-China narrative
Taiwan is continuing to receive support from the West in a joint stand against the CCP's aggression toward the island nation. Just as China's behavior concerning Hong Kong and its management of COVID has destroyed previous assumptions of its peaceful intentions, Beijing's belligerence and Xi Jinping's reckless actions reveal its stance on Taiwan, which becomes more internationally unpopular by the day.
