China sends warplanes into Taiwan air defence zone in response to UK minister’s visit OLD

© Xinhua China Taiwan Military Exercises China sent 31 military aircraft into Taiwan’s air-defence identification zone on Monday in an apparent response to British trade minister Greg Hands’s visit to the island nation.The warplanes were part of a larger sortie of 63 aircraft and four naval vessels that were spotted near the island’s “surrounding region”, the Taiwanese defence ministry said.The planes were tracked with electronic tools and Taiwan responded with aircraft, naval vessels, and land-based missile systems, it said.China flew the highest number of warplanes into Taiwan’s airspace on Monday since US White House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit in August, according to Bloomberg.Beijing has beefed up its military presence near Taiwan and maintains that the island is a part of its national territory, even though it has been self-ruled since 1949 following a civil war. The Chinese foreign ministry earlier in the day strongly criticised Mr Hands’s visit to Taipei, asking the UK to “upheld the one-China policy”.”We urge the British side to stop any form of official exchanges with Taiwan and stop sending wrong signals to separatist forces for Taiwan independence,” said spokesman Zhao Lijian.Beijing, in its effort to isolate Taiwan diplomatically, has imposed visa bans and other forms of retaliation against foreign officials and governments who visited the island.63 PLA aircraft and 4 PLAN vessels around our surrounding region were detected today (Nov. 7, 2022) until 1700(GMT+8). #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded to these activities with aircraft in CAP, naval vessels, and land-based missile systems. pic.twitter.com/P231DsFB6V- 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C.