Ten Chinese aircraft enter Taiwan Strait

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Ten Chinese aircraft enter Taiwan Strait

Ten Chinese aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, normally an unofficial barrier between the two sides, Taiwan s defense ministry said on Saturday as Beijing continues its military activities near the island.

In the 24 hours to 6 p.m. on Saturday, nine Chinese fighter jets and one military drone crossed the median line. The ministry said in its daily report on Chinese military activities.

Taiwan scrambled its own jets to warn the Chinese aircrafts, while missile systems monitored them, using standard wording for its response, the ministry said.

Despite the island's objections, Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained of almost daily missions by the Chinese air force near the democratically governed island, often in the southwestern part of its air defense identification zone.

Beijing has threatened unspecified retaliation if Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, traveling in the Americas, meets U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy. China staged war games around Taiwan in August after Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei. It has continued military activities near Taiwan, though on a reduced scale.

A senior Taiwan official told the island's security planning this week that China was unlikely to repeat such large exercises, but all preparations were made in case China reacts irrationally Separately nine Chinese aircraft crossed the median line on Friday carrying out combat readiness patrols, a move that Taiwan s defense ministry said has deliberately created tension and undermined peace and stability.