The Taiwanese Defense Ministry announced that over 50 Chinese military aircraft were detected in operation around the island Thursday.
"6 PLAN vessels and 51 PLA aircraft around our surrounding region were detected today (August 18, 2022) until 1700(GMT+8)," the Defense Ministry wrote on Twitter. "#ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded to these activities with aircraft in CAP, naval vessels, and land-based missile systems."
The ministry added: "25 of the detected aircraft (SU-30*12, J-10*4, J-16*6, Y-8 EW and H-6*2) had flown on the east part of the median line of the Taiwan Strait and our SW ADIZ, flight paths as illustrated."
The heightened activity comes shortly after U.S. and Taiwanese officials agreed to begin formal negotiations on a trade agreement this fall.
"As the situation across the Taiwan Strait has recently escalated, the U.S. government will continue to take concrete actions to maintain security and stability across the Taiwan Strait," the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said "China firmly opposes" U.S. and Taiwan holding trade talks.
"China always opposes any form of official exchanges between any country and the Taiwan region of China," the spokesperson, Shu Jueting, added. "China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its sovereignty."
Theodore Bunker ✉
Theodore Bunker, a Newsmax writer, has more than a decade covering news, media, and politics.
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