THE DAILY PLANET: China sends fighter jets as US offers Taiwan ‘strong’ support in landmark visit

TAIPEI (REUTERS) – Chinese air force jets briefly crossed over the mid-line of the Taiwan Strait on Monday and were tracked by Taiwanese missiles, Taiwan’s government said, as United States health chief Alex Azar visited the island to offer President Donald Trump’s strong support.

Mr Azar arrived in Taiwan on Sunday (Aug 9) as the highest-level US official to visit in four decades, a trip condemned by China which claims the island as its own, further irritating Sino-US relations.

China, which had promised unspecified retaliation to Mr Azar’s trip, flew J-11 and J-10 fighter aircraft briefly onto Taiwan’s side of the sensitive and narrow strait which separates it from its giant neighbour, at around 9am local time, shortly before Mr Azar met Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan’s air force said.

The Chinese aircraft were tracked by land-based Taiwanese anti-aircraft missiles and were “driven out” by patrolling Taiwanese aircraft, the air force said in a statement released by the defence ministry.

The incursion was only the third time since 2016 that Taiwan has said Chinese jets had crossed the strait’s median line.

Amid deteriorating relations between Washington and Beijing, the Trump administration has made strengthening its support for the democratic island a priority, and boosted arms sales.

“It’s a true honour to be here to convey a message of strong support and friendship from President Trump to Taiwan,” Mr Azar told Ms Tsai in the Presidential Office, standing in front of two Taiwanese flags.

Washington broke off official ties with Taipei in 1979 in favour of Beijing.

Mr Azar is visiting to strengthen economic and public-health cooperation with Taiwan and support Taiwan’s international role in fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

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“Taiwan’s response to Covid-19 has been among the most successful in the world, and that is a tribute to the open, transparent, democratic nature of Taiwan’s society and culture,” he told Ms Tsai.

Taiwan has also been particularly grateful for US support to permit its attendance at the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) decision-making body the World Health Assembly, and to allow it greater access to the organisation.

Taiwan is not a member of the WHO due to objections by China, which considers it a Chinese province.