Increased Chinese military activity near Taiwan post-Blinken visit to China

Taiwan reported increased Chinese military activity near the island as 12 aircraft crossed the sensitive midline of the Taiwan Strait on Saturday. This comes just a day after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded his visit to China.

Despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties, the U.S. remains Taiwan's most important international supporter and arms supplier.

During his visit to China, Blinken emphasized the "critical importance" of maintaining peace and stability in the strait.

Taiwan has faced increasing military pressure from China, which claims sovereignty over the island. However, Taiwan government firmly denies these claims.

According to Taiwan, 22 Chinese military aircraft, including Su-30 fighters, were detected around 9:30 am (0130 GMT) on Saturday. Twelve of them crossed the median line and reached northern and central Taiwan.

According to reports, Chinese aircraft were conducting "joint combat readiness patrols" with Chinese warships. Taiwanese planes and ships responded "appropriately," but no specific details were given.

While Taiwan's armed forces are well prepared, they are significantly outnumbered by China's military, especially in terms of navy and air force capabilities. Chinese missions near Taiwan occur on an almost daily basis

Source: Reuters