Taiwan states that around 60 Chinese warplanes have moved near the country’s air defense zone. According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense, 39 of them must have crossed the zone border and engaged the country’s air defenses. China is in the third and final day of a military exercise that, according to Chinese television, simulates future attacks on Taiwan. The exercise takes place in the air and at sea in the Taiwan Strait and is a response to Taiwan’s leader Tsai Ing-wen’s visit to the United States, where she met with Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy. The meeting has angered China, which sees Taiwan as part of mainland China. Now Taiwan states that 39 Chinese warplanes have invaded the country’s air defense zone and around 20 more planes have approached the border, reports Reuters. US ships support One of China’s aircraft carriers is said to be participating during the third day of the exercise, when the country will simulate a blockade of the island. The United States, which has urged China to exercise restraint, has sent the destroyer USS Milius into waters in the South China Sea claimed by China. “This freedom of navigation operation upholds the freedom and legal right to the sea,” a US Navy statement said. The USS Milius has passed close to the disputed Spratly archipelago, the navy added. According to China, the USS Milius has made an “illegal incursion” into Chinese territorial waters. See images from the Chinese exercise in the player above.
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