Chinese H-6 Bomber Circles Taiwan Amid Growing Tensions

Taiwan’s Defence Ministry reported on February 8th that an H-6 medium bomber from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army had circled the territory. An official statement read as follows: "The H-6 bomber passed through our southwestern territorial waters and to the Bashi Channel where it circled back to base. The whole passage was monitored and there were no abnormalities.” The overflight comes amid escalating tensions in the region, with Taiwan’s newly re-elected President Tsai Ing Wen adopting a hard line against Beijing and moving Taipei into a closer defence partnership with the United States. The H-6 overflight comes after the U.S. Air Force flew two nuclear capable B-52H heavyweight intercontinental range bombers over the strait on February 9th. Taipei and Beijing both claim sovereignty over the entire Chinese nation which includes both Taiwan and the mainland, and have been technically at war for over 70 years.