China Urges Taiwan Not to Interfere in Air Force Missions Around Island

On 28 May 2026, China’s Ministry of National Defence, via spokesperson Jiang Bin, urged Taiwan not to interfere with Chinese air force missions conducted around the island, saying the flights occur in Chinese airspace and are part of recent combat-readiness patrols reported by Taipei.

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China claims Taiwan as part of its sovereign territory, a claim Taiwan’s elected government rejects. Taiwan is on high alert after President Xi Jinping discussed Taiwan with U.S. President Donald Trump in Beijing in May. Key actors are Jiang Bin, President Lai Ching-te, President Xi, President Trump, the Chinese air force, and the Chinese and Taiwanese coast guards.

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• 19 May 2026 – Taiwan reported a Chinese “joint combat readiness patrol” and released images of warships.

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• 25 May 2026 – A second patrol was reported, with photos of Chinese fighters captured by Taiwanese jets.

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• 28 May 2026 – Beijing’s defence ministry issued the non-interference statement.

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• 26–27 May 2026 – Taiwan’s coast guard faced a Chinese coast guard vessel near the Pratas Islands.

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Jiang Bin asserted that Chinese aircraft conduct activities within Chinese airspace, warned Taiwan’s forces against interference and provocation, and pledged to strengthen training, safeguard sovereignty, and counter separatist activities and external interference. Taiwan placed its forces on high alert, reported the coast-guard encounter near the Pratas Islands, and reiterated President Lai’s stance that only Taiwan’s people can decide the island’s future.

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Taiwan reported the patrols and placed its forces on high alert. President Lai Ching-te reiterated that only Taiwan’s people can decide the island’s future, rejecting Chinese claims. Taiwan also noted that China has deployed more than 100 ships along the first island chain and that its coast guard faced a Chinese vessel near the Pratas Islands.

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The incident occurs within the first island chain, an area that stretches from Japan to Taiwan and the Philippines. President Xi’s discussion with President Trump in Beijing links the United States to the Taiwan situation among Beijing, Washington, and Taipei. Observers will monitor whether Chinese air and naval activity around Taiwan increases in frequency and whether any diplomatic engagement follows.

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• "Taiwan is a part of China." — Jiang Bin, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson

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• "Our aircraft conduct military activities within Chinese airspace." — Jiang Bin

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• "The 'Taiwan independence' armed forces had better refrain from interference and provocation." — Jiang Bin

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• "resolutely defeat any separatist activities and external interference." — Jiang Bin

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• "Only Taiwan's people can decide their future." — Lai Ching-te, President of Taiwan

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