Taiwan's defense ministry said Friday that 36 Chinese military aircraft were detected around the self-ruled island in a 24-hour window -- the highest number this year.
A formation of military airplanes, one HY-6 tanker aircraft and two J-10 fighters, fly over Beijing during a military parade at Tiananmen Square on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan's defense ministry said Friday that 36 Chinese military aircraft were detected around the self-ruled island in a 24-hour window -- the highest number this year.
The ministry added that among the 36 military aircraft detected, 13 "crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait", the sensitive waterway separating China from Taiwan. Her deputy Lai Ching-te, who China regards as a "dangerous separatist", was elected in January after warnings from Beijing that he would bring "war and decline" to the island.
Beijing often reacts to any diplomatic acknowledgement of high-ranking Taiwanese officials, criticising other countries for the merest semblance of acknowledgement of the island's sovereigntyAdding to tensions, a row between Taipei and Beijing over a fatal fishing boat incident has dragged on since last month.
The highest number of warplanes around Taiwan occurred last September when 103 Chinese aircraft were detected in a 24-hour period, according to daily data released by the defense ministry.