Taipei:
Dozens of Chinese warplanes were spotted flying around Taiwan in one day, the self-governing island’s defense ministry said on Tuesday, as it called on Beijing to stop its “provocative actions”.
The latest missions came a day after China flew 103 warplanes around Taiwan from Sunday to Monday morning, which the island’s authorities said was a “recently high” number.
On Tuesday, the ministry said China sailed 55 aircraft and seven naval ships around the island from Monday to Tuesday morning.
Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory that it will one day seize, and has increased diplomatic and military pressure on Taipei in recent years.
On Tuesday, Taiwan’s ministry accused China of carrying out “provocative actions” that led to “rising tensions and deteriorating regional security.”
About half of the 55 fighter jets detected crossed the so-called center line of the Taiwan Strait, which separates the island from China, and entered the southwestern and southeastern air defense identification zones (ADIZ), Taipei said.
On Monday, Taiwan had urged China to “immediately stop such destructive unilateral actions.”
China’s Foreign Ministry did not comment on the missions on Monday, although spokeswoman Mao Ning reaffirmed Beijing’s position that Taiwan belongs to China.
She also reiterated Beijing’s policy that “the so-called middle line does not exist.”
Taipei has reported a marked increase in incursions by Chinese warplanes and ships in recent days.
Beijing said last week its forces were on “high alert” after two ships from the United States and Canada sailed through the Taiwan Strait.
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