China sends warplanes, navy ships towards Taiwan in forceful display

China sent 38 warplanes and 9 navy vessels around Taiwan, crossing the midline of the Taiwan Strait. It held large-scale military drills in response to U.S. House Speaker visits to Taiwan, disrupting trade lanes and forcing airplanes to reroute.

China sent navy ships and a large group of warplanes, including fighter jets and bombers, toward Taiwan over two days, the island's defence ministry said on July 12, before its annual military exercises aimed at defending itself against a possible invasion.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army sent 38 warplanes and 9 navy vessels around Taiwan, between 6 a.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday. From Wednesday morning until noon time, the military flew another 30 planes, among which included J-10 and J-16 fighters.

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Of these, 32 crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial boundary that had been considered a buffer between the island and mainland. Later on Wednesday, another 23 planes crossed the midline.

Taiwan is scheduled to hold the annual Han Guang exercise later this month, in which its military will hold combat readiness drills against preventing an invasion. It will also conduct the annual Wan'an exercises aimed at preparing civilians for natural disasters and practicing evacuations in case of an air raid.

China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory and in recent years has shown is displeasure at political activities in Taiwan by stepping up the number of military planes sent toward Taiwan. In the past year, it has also started sending its navy vessels, as well as drones to circle the waters near the island.

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