Taiwan says it discovered 14 Chinese fighter jets carrying “combat readiness patrols”

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said Taiwan sent its own troops to conduct surveillance.

Taipei:

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said it spotted 14 Chinese air force aircraft operating around Taiwan on Wednesday and conducting “joint combat readiness patrols” with Chinese warships.

China considers Taiwan its own territory and has regularly sent warplanes and warships into the skies and waters around the island over the past four years in pursuit of claims that the Taiwanese government rejects.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said it spotted 14 Chinese aircraft, including J-16 fighter jets and drones, flying in waters to the north and southwest of Taiwan starting around 1pm (0500 GMT) on Wednesday.

The Ministry of National Defense added that nine of the aircraft flew over or near the central line of the Taiwan Strait to conduct “joint combat readiness patrols” with Chinese warships.

There was no immediate response from China’s Defense Ministry. China is in the midst of its week-long Lunar New Year holiday.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said Taiwan sent its own troops to conduct surveillance.

The central line of the strait once served as an unofficial barrier between the two sides, but Chinese aircraft now fly regularly across the strait. China says it does not recognize the existence of this line.

Taiwan last month elected Vice President Lai Ching-te, whom China calls a dangerous separatist, as its next president.

Lai Zhi, who took office in May, proposed talks with China, but was rejected. He said that only the people of Taiwan can decide their own future.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)