Taiwan claims to have seen numerous Chinese aircraft and warships engaged in a potential mock attack

• Taiwan claims to have spotted “several” Chinese planes and navy vessels engaged in military exercises near the Taiwan Strait
• The Taiwan Strait’s sensitive median line, which separates the island from the Chinese mainland, was crossed by some the aircraft
• After US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s contentious visit to the autonomous, democratic island earlier this week

On Saturday, Taiwan claims to have spotted “several” Chinese planes and navy vessels engaged in military exercises near the Taiwan Strait, which could have been a possible preemptive strike against the island.

The Taiwan Strait’s sensitive median line, which separates the island from the Chinese mainland, was crossed by some of the aircraft and vessels, according to the government.

According to the ministry, the military has issued warnings, sent out combat air patrol and navy warships, and turned on land-based missile systems in reaction to the crisis.

The actual number of Chinese aircraft and vessels that were discovered was not stated in the statement.

Regarding the objectives of the exercises on Saturday, the Chinese military has not yet released a comment.

After US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s contentious visit to the autonomous, democratic island earlier this week, China has conducted a number of military exercises surrounding Taiwan since Thursday.

Despite never having held power there, the Chinese Communist Party regards Taiwan as its own and has long promised to “reunite” the island with the Chinese mainland, using force if necessary.

Pelosi arrived in Taipei on Tuesday night as part of a bigger Asia tour that ended on Friday with a final stop in Japan, disregarding the country’s vehement objections to her presence.

However, the full effects of her visit are only now becoming apparent as China intensifies military drills in the air and seas surrounding Taiwan and suspends collaboration with the US on a number of topics.

According to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, 68 Chinese aeroplanes were spotted in the Taiwan Strait on Friday. 49 of them entered Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ), a ring of airspace that serves as a barrier. Only a few aircraft separated that from the record set by 56 Chinese warplanes that entered the ADIZ on the same day last year.

According to the ministry, 19 of the aeroplanes on Friday also crossed the line dividing the Taiwan Strait.

11 ballistic missiles were launched by China on Thursday, some of which flew over Taiwan and landed in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone, causing Tokyo to formally complain to Beijing. China had never before fired missiles over the island.

Also on Thursday, the Air Self-Defense Force of Japan scrambled fighter jets in response to two Chinese drones flying close to the Okinawa prefecture.

According to Chinese official media, the drills will go on until Sunday local time in Beijing.