No ‘median line’ in Taiwan Strait: China asserts after sending 103 warplanes around Taiwan

China dismissed the existence of a "median line" in the Taiwan Strait and warned the US to stop arming Taiwan, otherwise it will be met with China's resolute response. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said Taiwan is part of China's territory and the US's arms sales to the region is a "wrong and dangerous path". China will safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

China on September 18 dismissed the existence of a "median line" in the volatile Taiwan Strait after Taiwan's defence ministry said it detected a record 103 Chinese warplanes flying around the self-ruled island in a 24-hour period.

"First of all, this is not a question about foreign affairs. I suggest you refer to competent Chinese authorities for specifics," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said without commenting on Beijing's latest military provocation.

"Let me say that Taiwan is part of China's territory. There is no so-called "median line" in the Taiwan Strait," Ms. Mao asserted when a reporter sought her response to Taiwan's defence ministry's statement that 40 of the 103 Chinese People’s Liberation Army warplanes crossed the "median line" on the Taiwan Strait in a 24-hour span between Sunday and Monday.

China views Taiwan — a democratically governed island of 24 million — as part of its territory, despite having never governed it.

The ruling Communist Party of China has long vowed that the island must be unified with the Chinese mainland, by force if necessary, while Taiwan strongly rejects China's territorial claims over it.

According to a flight map provided by Taiwan's defence ministry, 40 of the 103 Chinese warplanes crossed the "median line" on the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s self-declared air defence identification zone (ADIZ).

Those 40 incursions were made by 10 Su-30 fighter jets, 12 J-10 fighter jets, four J-11 fighter jets, 10 J-16 fighter jets, two Y-20 aerial refuelling aircraft, and two KJ-500 airborne early warning and control planes, it said.