55 Chinese warplanes detected around Taiwan: Taipei
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The Taiwanese Defense Ministry claims China flew 55 aircraft and sailed seven naval vessels around the island from Monday to Tuesday morning.
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A Chinese fighter jet taking off from the Shandong aircraft carrier during exercises near Taiwan in August (Chinese state media)
The Taiwanese Defense Ministry claimed on Tuesday that dozens of Chinese warplanes were detected around Taiwan in a day, as it called on Beijing to stop what it described as "provocative actions".
The latest sorties came a day after the Ministry alleged that China flew 103 warplanes in the 24-hour window from Sunday to Monday morning around Taiwan, which the island's authorities said was a "recent high" number.
On Tuesday, the Taiwanese Defense Ministry said China flew 55 aircraft and sailed seven naval vessels around the island from Monday to Tuesday morning.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and opposes any direct official foreign contact with the island. It also vows to return the island under its control.
On Tuesday, the Ministry accused China of carrying out "provocative actions" that were leading to "rising tensions and deteriorating regional security."
Taipei alleged that around half of the 55 warplanes detected crossed the so-called median line of the Taiwan Strait that separates the island from China and entered its southwest and southeast so-called air defense identification zone (ADIZ).
On Monday, Taiwan had urged China to "immediately stop such destructive unilateral actions."
The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not comment on the alleged sorties on Monday, though its spokesperson Mao Ning reaffirmed Beijing's position that Taiwan belongs to China.
She also reiterated Beijing's policy that "the so-called median line does not exist."
Taipei has reported a marked uptick in the number of alleged incursions by Chinese warplanes and ships in recent days.
Beijing said last week its troops were on "high alert" after two ships belonging to the United States and Canada sailed through the Taiwan Strait.
This comes amid occasional provocative visits made by Western officials to Taiwan and vice versa, which violates the "One-China" principle.
China considers the One China principle a main condition when engaging with foreign countries. The political doctrine was reached during a joint communique between Washington and Beijing where both sides acknowledge "that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China" and "does not challenge that position."
Despite claiming otherwise, the US has been breaching its commitment to the policy, as it held several high-level meetings with Taiwanese officials, boosted weapons sales to the island, and increased its military presence in the Taiwan Strait.
Read more: 28 Chinese warplanes detected around Taiwan: Taiwan MoD
