Taiwan Logs Seven Sorties as PNG Dispute Draws Beijing Question
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported seven Chinese military aircraft sorties, seven naval vessels and two official ships around Taiwan in the 24 hours to 6 a.m. on November 12. Three of the sorties entered the southwestern and eastern air defence identification zone, the ministry said.
Separately, Taiwan’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that China was behind Papua New Guinea’s decision to expel Taiwanese diplomats, Focus Taiwan reported. Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi told a legislative hearing that Port Moresby may have faced significant Chinese pressure or economic incentives, pointing to a recent PNG delegation visit to China and Prime Minister James Marape’s planned trip to the APEC summit.
PNG’s foreign department gave two Taiwanese diplomats seven days to leave on November 6. Chen said China has since said it stands ready to import more PNG liquefied natural gas. Beijing’s response was not included in that report.
The reported military figures show routine activity; the PNG explanation remains Taipei’s assessment.