Military officials in Taiwan reported Chinese military activity near their nautical borders and airspace, shortly after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken departed from a three-day visit to Beijing.
The Taiwanese Defense Ministry reported on X that on Saturday morning, 22 various types of China’s combat aircraft and four warships were deployed along the western coast of the island nation.
The announcement stated that 12 of the suspect aircraft crossed the country’s Air Defense Identification Zone in what was described as “joint combat readiness patrols” with Chinese naval units.
In recent years, China has engaged in provocative and aggressive actions in the area to exercise sovereignty over the democratic nation, which it recognizes as a province in disunion.
On Wednesday, President Biden signed into law an $8 billion aid package for Taipei’s military.
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