China sent 74 warplanes toward Taiwan between late Thursday and early yesterday, 61 of which crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait.
It was not clear why so many planes were scrambled, said the Ministry of National Defense, which tabulated the flights.
The aircraft were sent in two separate tranches, the ministry said.
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of National Defense
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday “confirmed and welcomed” a transit by the British Royal Navy’s HMS Spey, a River-class offshore patrol vessel, through the Taiwan Strait a day earlier.
The ship’s transit “once again [reaffirmed the Strait’s] status as international waters,” the foreign ministry said.
“Such transits by the UK and other like-minded countries are encouraged to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific,” it said.
The British Office Taipei said in a statement that the Spey had conducted a navigation of the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law and rights provided under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
“Wherever the Royal Navy operates, it does so in full compliance with international law and exercises its right to Freedom of Navigation and overflight,” the statement said.
Beijing said the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army “organized troops to monitor and guard the entire process, and effectively responded and dealt with it.”
The British ship’s action “deliberately disturbed the situation and undermined the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait,” the Eastern Theater Command said.
It was not clear if the large number of Chinese warplanes sent on Thursday and yesterday were related to the earlier sailing of the British ship.
Six military ships accompanied the Chinese planes, which ranged from drones to fighter jets, and early warning and other support aircraft. Taiwan deployed ships, fighter interceptors and land-based missile systems in response.
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