Tensions between China and Taiwan continue

Taiwan reported that 39 Chinese warplanes and 13 ships were seen around the island The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense announced that 39 warplanes and 13 warships were seen around the island on the 5th day of China’s military exercises, which began following the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and continued beyond the previously announced four-day period. The ministry stated that the Chinese air and sea vehicles were being monitored with electronic tracking devices, patrol planes, ships and missile systems. The statement also noted that 21 of the planes were determined to be flying east of the air and sea line accepted as delimiting the parties’ spheres of influence in the Taiwan Strait and in the southwestern part of Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). The department reported that 27 Chinese warplanes were seen around Taiwan on August 3, when Pelosi visited the island, and 22 on August 4, when the exercises around the island began following the visit, and that 11 guided missiles fired from the Chinese mainland fell in the area Taiwan considers to be its “territorial waters” on August 4. It was also announced that 68 warplanes and 13 warships were seen around the island on August 5, 20 planes and 14 ships on August 6, and 66 planes and 14 ships on August 7. The exercises that China last announced to be held between August 4 and 7 had created a de facto blockade around the island, with which it is in a sovereignty dispute. Some areas were closed to ship and plane traffic due to the exercises conducted in 6 regions, and it was reported that navigation in the strait was disrupted due to security concerns. The Chinese military announced yesterday that it would continue the exercises, despite the expiration of the air and maritime safety warnings (NOTAM) issued regarding the exercises at noon on Sunday.