Taiwan reported on Sunday that it had spotted 37 Chinese fighter jets, drones and other aircraft near the autonomous island. China has increased its military activities around the island in recent years as Beijing puts pressure on Taipei to accept its sovereignty claims over the island, AFP recalled.
The presence of Chinese fighter jets was associated with “long-range” training flights. However, 35 of the participating aircraft crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait, which separates mainland China from Taiwan, and entered Taiwan's airspace.
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Taiwan's Ministry of Defense said it had put aircraft, ground-based missile systems and warships on alert in response.
The Chinese military drills come a week after Taiwan detected Chinese “patroling” by fighter jets and warships around the island. At the time, the United States condemned the Chinese government's actions.
Exercises in key regions. the US sent aid
China is not alone in deciding to hold exercises on Sunday. These were also carried out by the United States in cooperation with South Korea and Japan. The two countries' joint air exercises involving B-1B heavy bombers were a response to North Korea's recent long-range missile tests.
North Korea's test of a state-of-the-art ballistic missile this week has alarmed the United States, as experts say the missile is capable of reaching targets on the U.S. mainland.
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In a press release, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, “This exercise demonstrates the South Korea-U.S. alliance's commitment to demonstrating integrated and expanded deterrence in response to North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats.'' ” he said.
During the exercise, South Korean and Japanese fighter jets escorted U.S. bombers to designated locations south of the Korean peninsula, “demonstrating their overwhelming ability to strike simulated targets quickly and accurately.”
According to the South Korean military, this is the fourth time this year that bombers have been sent to the Korean peninsula, and the second time as part of an air exercise between the three countries.
China escalates tensions. Are they building modern aircraft carriers?
Conflicts in the region are rapidly escalating as experiments, exercises and investments are discovered in the region with increasing frequency. American broadcaster CNN reported on Saturday that China may be building an aircraft carrier in Guangdong province. The media pointed out that the Chinese government is building a highly advanced warship that is technologically comparable to US aircraft carriers.
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One of the experts cited by the agency estimated that the ship under construction could serve as an aircraft carrier for China Coast Guard helicopters and drones.
State news agency Xinhua noted that two other aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, completed their first exercises at the end of October. It was conducted in the South China Sea and was intended to “improve the joint combat capabilities of aircraft carrier fleets.”
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