China sends 71 warplanes and 7 ships to Taiwan in 24 hours

Taiwan’s defense Ministry said Monday that the Chinese military had sent seven ships and 71 aircraft toward Taiwan in a 24-hour show force directed at Taiwan. ChinaHe was angry at the Taiwan-related provisions in the US defense spending bill, which passed Saturday.

The Chinese military harassment of Taiwan, which it claims to be its territory, has increased in recent years. The Communist Party’s People’s Liberation Army has flown planes and ships almost every day.

According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, 47 Chinese aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait between 6 a.m. on Sunday and 6: a.m. on Monday. This is an unofficial border that both sides have tacitly accepted.

China sent 18 J-16 fighter jets, 11 J-1 fighters and 6 Su-30 fighters to Taiwan.

Taiwan claimed it monitors Chinese movements via its land-based missile system and aboard its navy ships.

Shi Yi, a spokesperson of the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command stated that this was a firm response the current escalation between the United States, Taiwan. He stated that the People’s Liberation Army was conducting joint combat exercises and joint patrols in the waters around Taiwan.

Xi was referring the US defense expenditure bill, which calls China a strategic problem. In the Indo-Pacific area, the legislation authorizes greater security cooperation with Taiwan, and requires India to expand cooperation on emerging defense technologies and logistics.

The Chinese military has used large military exercises as a way to show its strength in response the US government’s actions in support of Taiwan. In August, the Chinese military conducted a large-scale military live-fire exercise as a response to Nancy Pelosi’s visit in Taiwan. Beijing regards foreign governments visiting the island as de facto acknowledging the island’s independence and as a challenge to China’s claim to sovereignty.