Dozens of Chinese warplanes were spotted around Taiwan in a single day, the self-ruled island’s defence ministry stated Tuesday, calling on Beijing to stop its provocative actions.
The latest flights came a day after China flew 103 warplanes around Taiwan in a 24-hour period from Sunday to Monday morning, which the island’s authorities described as a recent high number.
According to the government, from Monday until Tuesday morning, China flew 55 aircraft and sailed seven military vessels near the island.
Beijing regards Taiwan as its own territory, one day to be taken, and has increased diplomatic and military pressure on Taipei in recent years.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused China on Tuesday of provocative actions that were causing rising tensions and deteriorating regional security.
As per Taipei, over half of the 55 spotted warplanes passed the so-called median line of the Taiwan Strait, which separates the island from China, and entered the country’s southwest and southeast air defence identification zone (ADIZ).
Taiwan had urged China on Monday to immediately stop such destructive unilateral actions.
On Monday, China’s foreign ministry made no comment on the sorties, however, spokeswoman Mao Ning reaffirmed Beijing’s claim that Taiwan Chinese territory.
She also repeated Beijing’s policy of no such thing as a median line.
In recent days, Taipei has reported an increase in the number of intrusions by Chinese warplanes and ships.
Last week, Beijing declared its forces on high alert after two US and Canadian ships sailed through the Taiwan Strait.
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