Taiwan detects 9 Chinese warships, 26 aircrafts

ALBAWABA - Taiwan detected nine Chinese warships and 26 aircrafts in the vicinity of the island, day after Beijing ended its extensive military maneuvers around it, in light of the escalation of tensions, in response to a meeting that took place between Taiwan President and U.S. House Speaker. 

Taiwan's defense ministry said that China mobilized "military aircraft on Tuesday morning and crossed the center line from the north, center and south."

"Nine ships are still active in the waters around the island," Taiwanese Ministry of Defense said in its statement, noting that it was closely monitoring the situation.

According to the ministry, the island monitored 12 Chinese warships and 91 aircraft around it on the last day of Chinese military maneuvers around the island, Monday, in addition to 54 aircraft crossing the air defense identification zones southwest and southeast of Taiwan.

This is said to be the largest number of Chinese warplanes crossing the island in only one day since Oct.2021.

On Saturday, China launched military maneuvers around Taiwan for three days, during which it simulated imposing a blockade on the island and launching strikes on specific targets.

The maneuvers came in response to a meeting that took place last week between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. China had previously warned of the consequences of the meeting.

After the end of the exercises, the Chinese army said that it had "successfully accomplished" the tasks set in the framework of the exercises, which were called "Joint Sword".

China has not announced additional maneuvers around Taiwan, but air raids on the island, by Chinese warplanes, have taken place, almost daily, since few years ago.

China constantly affirms that Taiwan is under its sovereignty and that it will work hard to preserve it, whatever it takes.