At least 19 fighter jets and bombers crossed the center line of the Taiwan Strait and flew into Taiwan’s airspace, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense.
The episode took place at the same time as representatives of the US and Taiwanese authorities attended a memorial service for former President Lee Teng-hui, who died in July.
The US envoy is Keith Krach, who is the highest-ranking official in the US State Department who has visited Taiwan for decades. Earlier in the day, he met Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.
Chinese military exercise in Taiwan Strait
In response to the visit, China held military exercises in the Taiwan Strait and nearby areas, in what is the second round of such exercises this month.
The exercise used, among other things, two bombers and 16 fighter jets, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense.
(The article continues below video)
Video: Xi: – Reunification with Taiwan «inevitable»
At a press conference on Friday, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Defense, Ren Guoqiang, stated that Beijing was holding actual combat exercises.
– This is a legitimate and necessary action to protect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in response to the current situation in the Taiwan Strait, in Ren.
China and Taiwan have been separated since 1949
US Secretary of Health Alex Azar was the first US Secretary of State to set foot on the island since the United States recognized Taiwan as part of “one China” in 1979.
China and Taiwan have been separated since 1949 when the Communists won the Chinese Civil War and took power on the mainland. The defeated nationalists sought refuge on the island of Taiwan.
In practice, Taiwan has full autonomy, but China threatens invasion if the leadership in Taipei formally declares independence.
The case is being updated
Video: Taiwan practiced to avert invasion
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