Taiwan says Chinese combat patrols have flown near the island; Chinese and American leaders meet world

The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense stated that it had detected 23 Chinese fighter planes flying near the island of Taiwan on Friday (26). According to the ministry, the planes were patrolling together, as if they were in a state of combat readiness.

Representatives of the governments of China and the United States are scheduled to meet in Thailand in the coming days.

China considers Taiwan part of Chinese territory and says it has sovereignty over the island. Over the past four years, it has been common for China to send aircraft and warships to areas close to Taiwan.

The Taiwanese Defense Minister said that the aircraft included:

Of the 23 planes, 13 of them crossed the dividing line between China and Taiwan in the Taiwan Strait. The line is considered an unofficial barrier between the two, but the Chinese do not acknowledge the existence of the dividing line and often cross it.

Taiwan sent its special forces to monitor the situation.

Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Advisor, and Wang Yi, the Chinese Foreign Minister, are scheduled to meet in Thailand for talks on military issues and how to limit the production of fentanyl, an opioid whose consumption is on the rise.

The United States pursues a policy of strategic ambiguity towards Taiwan. The Americans do not officially recognize the existence of the Taiwanese government, but support the island in various ways.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has already said that Taiwan will be a topic of discussion in the meeting with US government leaders in Thailand.

Earlier this month, Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party was elected president of Taiwan. For China, Lai is considered a separatist. He tried to arrange a meeting with the Chinese authorities, but the Chinese government did not receive him.