Why did Washington take such a high-profile action as the COVID-19 outbreak in China continues to trouble Beijing? Unnamed sources say that Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) warplanes entered Taiwan’s outer airspace twice within 24 hours on Feb. 9 and Feb. 10, crossing the median line the second day. Surprisingly, sources confirmed that the Chinese J-11 planes both crossed the line and locked on to Taiwan’s military aircraft scrambling to intercept, and tensions were high. Whether the PLA pilots did so because they became nervous seeing several Taiwanese military aircraft or because they were under orders and acted intentionally, as even the slightest mistake could have accidentally sparked an incident. Washington dared not ignore the Chinese provocation, and the US Department of State immediately called on Beijing to cease its threats.

Source: Taipei Times February 21, 2020 15:56 UTC