Antony Blinken US Secretary of State has asked China to stop pressure on Taiwan. Several military aircraft had previously violated the airspace.
The new US administration pledged its support to Taiwan after the island state reported an unusually significant airspace violation by Chinese military aircraft. “We will continue to assist Taiwan in obtaining adequate self-defence capabilities,” said US State Department spokesman Ned Price on Saturday. “We urge Beijing to end its military, diplomatic and economic pressure on Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan’s democratically elected officials.”

Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense said eight Chinese H-6K bombers, four J-16 fighter jets and one Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft entered the airspace defence zone on Saturday. The planes would have flown over waters near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands in the South China Sea. Recently, Chinese jets were often on the move there, but there was usually only one or two reconnaissance aircraft.

China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province under its one-China doctrine. A statement from Beijing was not initially available.

The new US President Joe Biden has nominated Antony Blinken as Secretary of State. This is expected to be confirmed by the Senate at the beginning of next week.