China sent what is being described as a “record number” of warplanes into Taiwan’s declared air defense identification zone (ADIZ) yesterday (though several countries and entities, including the U.S. and NATO, have declared them, there is no recognition in international law of ADIZs as sovereign airspace), including an antisubmarine warfare aircraft, eight H-6K bombers and four J-16 fighters (the Chinese version of the SU-27). Experts consulted by Taiwan’s CNA channel said that the show of force was a message to Biden by intensifying military pressure on Taiwan. Making it more unusual, these experts said, was that the flights were mainly of warplanes rather than slower-moving surveillance types of aircraft.
The U.S. State Department issued a statement in response that looks like it could have been written by the now-departed psycho Mike Pompeo, indicating the thoroughly bipartisan nature of the swamp. “The United States notes with concern the pattern of ongoing P.R.C. attempts to intimidate its neighbors, including Taiwan,” the statement said. “We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan’s democratically elected representatives.
