Taiwan: Beijing Sent 22 Military Aircraft, 6 Ships to Taiwan Strait
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A Chinese J-11 military fighter jet flies above the Taiwan Strait near Pingtan, the closest land of mainland China to the island of Taiwan, in Pingtan in southeastern China's Fujian Province, Friday, Aug. 5, 2022 (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
The Chinese military on Sunday sent 22 military aircraft and 6 vessels to the Taiwan Strait, with 11 jets being detected in Taiwan's southwestern air defense identification zone (SW ADIZ), the island's ministry of national defense said.
6 PLAN vessels and 22 PLA aircraft around our surrounding region were detected today (August 14, 2022) until 1700(GMT+8). #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded to these activities with aircraft in CAP, naval vessels, and land-based missile systems. pic.twitter.com/L0BKERBAn8
— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) August 14, 2022
The ministry added that 11 of the said aircraft "had flown on the east part of the median line of the Taiwan Strait" while staying in the island's SW ADIZ.
Read more: US Congressional delegation arrives in Taiwan
In early August, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei while on an Asia tour despite warnings from China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory and opposes any direct official foreign contacts with the island. She was the first highest-ranking US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years.
The visit triggered a new round of tensions in the Taiwan Strait. In addition to the launch of military exercises, Beijing had imposed sanctions against two Taiwanese foundations for separatist activities, suspended the export of natural sand to the island and the import of citrus fruits, as well as some types of fish products from Taiwan.
Earlier today, Washington's de facto embassy in Taipei said in a statement that the US sends a congressional delegation to Taiwan, once again reigniting tensions with China over the non-respect of its sovereignty.
It was likewise reported on the same day that both China and Thailand engaged in military drills under the name of "Falcon Strike" to strengthen their alliance, as the US prepares its own drills with Indonesia following the Pelosi visit.
