Taiwan's Defense Ministry said it detected 19 Chinese aircraft, including fighter jets and drones, flying near the island for nearly four hours as part of China's "joint combat readiness patrol" around Taiwan on October 27, according to AFP.
Chinese fighter jets drop bombs during a recent exercise
Photo: Screenshot Chinamil.com.cn
Taiwan's Defense Ministry also said that Taiwan's defense forces have been closely monitoring the situation with joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, deploying aircraft, military ships and shore-based missile systems as an appropriate response.
Taiwan discovered the Chinese aircraft after the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement on October 26 strongly condemning the US approval of a $2 billion arms sale to Taiwan and sending a “solemn protest” to the US. According to Reuters, citing the statement, China called on the US to immediately stop supplying arms to Taiwan and stop dangerous moves that undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
In addition, China's Taiwan Affairs Office said today that the latest arms package shows that Washington "continually contradicts its leaders' promises not to support 'Taiwan independence'... and harms peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait region."
Earlier, on October 25, the US State Department approved a $2 billion arms sale package to Taiwan, including the first transfer to the island of the advanced air defense missile system (NASAMS), according to AFP.
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