The border has been crossed. “From 11 a.m., several groups of warplanes and warships Chinese Exercises were conducted around the Straits Taiwan crossed the middle line of the strait,” Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
Taipei reported a surge of 49 Chinese air incursions in its Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Wednesday and Thursday, 44 of which came from beyond the central line. “This is Chinese military training, isn’t it Launches ballistic missiles Or deliberately crossing the median line of the strait is a very provocative act,” he continued.
An emotional issue
An unofficial border between Taiwan and mainland China, the Intermediate Line was once tacitly respected by both armies and rarely crossed by Chinese military aircraft or ships. But Chinese incursions have multiplied since Beijing announced in 2020 that this unofficial border would no longer exist.
The question of crossing the line is sensitive, as the Taiwan Strait is narrow – only 130 km in places – and incursions increase the risk of accidental armed conflict.
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