Taiwan reported Chinese warplanes and warships flying near the island on Saturday, including aircraft breaching the Taiwan Strait’s critical median line, as Beijing maintains military activity three weeks before Taiwan’s election.
Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained for four years about regular Chinese military patrols and drills near the island.
Campaigning for Taiwan’s presidential and parliamentary elections on January 13 has begun. Relations with China are a key source of tension.
Taiwan’s defense ministry reported that it has identified J-10, J-11, and J-16 jets, as well as early warning aircraft, operating in the area to Taiwan’s north, middle, and southwest since 1:30 p.m. (0530 GMT) on Saturday.
Ten planes crossed the Taiwan Strait middle line or nearby locations to conduct “joint combat readiness patrols” with Chinese vessels, according to the ministry.
The midway line used to act as an unofficial boundary between the two sides, but Chinese jets now pass over it on a regular basis.
Taiwan has sending its own forces to monitor, according to the ministry.
China has not responded on its recent spate of military activities near Taiwan. It has previously described them as being aimed at preventing “collusion” between Taiwan separatists and the United States, and protecting China’s territorial integrity.
Taiwan’s government, which has repeatedly offered talks with China, rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and says only the island’s people can decide their future.
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing has denounced as a separatist, is the frontrunner to be Taiwan’s next president, according to opinion polls.
Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang, traditionally supports close ties with Beijing, and has pledged to reopen dialogue with China if it wins the election. But it too also says Taiwan’s people are the only ones who can decide their future.
