Chinese aircraft spotted around Taiwan

Taiwan reported that 42 Chinese warplanes, 1 military drone and 9 ships were seen around the island. China had been observed to have increased its military patrols around Taiwan and flights crossing the nominal “median line” separating the Taiwan Strait following the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi early last month. Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense reported that 42 Chinese warplanes, 1 military drone and 9 warships were seen around the island on Saturday. The ministry said in a statement that 17 of the planes flew east of the air and sea line assumed to delimit the parties’ spheres of influence in the Taiwan Strait, while 1 plane and a drone flew southwest of the area declared by Taiwan as the “Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). It was stated that 9 SU-30, 4 J-16 and 4 J-10 fighter jets crossed the “median line” assumed to delimit their spheres of influence in the Taiwan Strait, while 1 Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft and a “BZK-005” type military unmanned aerial vehicle flew southwest of the ADIZ. The statement noted that 42 fighter jets, 1 drone and 9 ships detected around the island were being monitored by electronic tracking devices, patrol planes, ships and ground missile systems. The flights coincided with the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations in mainland China and Taiwan. It was observed that China had increased its military patrol activities around Taiwan and the flights it crossed the nominal “median line” separating the Taiwan Strait following the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the beginning of last month. Pelosi’s visit had created tensions Pelosi became the first US House Speaker to visit the island, which is in a sovereignty dispute with China, in 25 years. The visit drew the ire of China, which sees the island as part of its territory. Following the visit, the Chinese army launched military exercises around the island, and the seven-day exercises created a de facto blockade around the island. During the exercises, which used live weapons and ammunition, guided missiles fired from the Chinese mainland fell into the waters near Taiwan. An army spokesman announced on August 10 that the exercises were complete, but announced that military patrols in the Taiwan Strait would continue.