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| Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen attends an inauguration ceremony of a maintenance centre for F-16 fighter jets, in Taichung, Taiwan, Aug 28, 2020. (Reuters/Ann Wang) |
[Asia News Communication = Reporter Reakkana] Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen praised on Tuesday (Sep 22) the "heroic performance" of air force pilots who have intercepted Chinese jets that have approached the island, as Beijing steps up military pressure on Taiwan.
Tension between China and the island Beijing claims as sovereign Chinese territory have spiked to their highest in years, with Taiwanese fighter jets scrambling to intercept the Chinese aircraft last week. Visiting a major air force base on Penghu in the sensitive Taiwan Strait that divides the two sides, Tsai told pilots and engineers she was aware of their "heroic performance" when intercepting and driving away Chinese aircraft."I have a lot of confidence in you. As soldiers of the Republic of China, how could we let enemies strut around in our own airspace?" she said, using Taiwan's formal name.
The base, now home to F-CK-1 Ching-kuo Indigenous Defence Fighters (IDF) which first entered service in 1997, is at the front line of Taiwan's response to Chinese military intrusions.Unusually, Chinese aircraft last week breached the midline of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial barrier for combat aircraft of both sides, although they haven’t flown over mainland Taiwan. On Monday, China's foreign ministry said the line didn’t exist, provoking condemnation from Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu. Taiwanese fighters have intercept Chinese aircrafts many times this year.(Reuters/lk)
