Taiwan Reports Record Number of Chinese Warplanes Flying Toward Island

China’s military sent 103 warplanes toward Taiwan in a 24-hour period, according to Taiwan’s defense ministry. This is the highest number of warplanes detected in recent times. The planes were detected between Sunday morning and Monday morning and turned back before reaching Taiwan.

China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has been conducting large military drills in the air and waters around Taiwan as tensions with Taiwan and the United States have escalated. The United States is Taiwan’s main supplier of arms and opposes any attempt to change Taiwan’s status by force.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported that 40 of the warplanes crossed the symbolic halfway point between mainland China and Taiwan. Additionally, nine naval vessels were detected in the previous 24 hours. The ministry called these actions by the Chinese military “harassment” and warned that they could escalate in the current tense atmosphere.

China’s recent actions may be an attempt to influence Taiwan’s presidential election in January. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which leans toward formal independence for the island, is not favored by the Chinese government. China instead prefers opposition candidates who advocate for working with the mainland.

Taiwan and China split in 1949 during a civil war when the communists took control of China. The Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established their own government on the island. Taiwan is self-governing, but only a few foreign nations have formal diplomatic recognition of it. The United States, among others, has formal ties with China while maintaining a representative office in Taiwan.

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