China flies 103 military planes toward Taiwan in a new high in activity

Chinas military sent 103 warplanes toward Taiwan in a 24hour period in what the islands defence ministry called a recent new high The planes were detected between 6 am on Sunday and 6 am on Monday the ministry said As is customary they turned back before reaching TaiwanChinese warplanes fly toward the selfgoverning island on a neardaily basis but typically in smaller numbers The Taiwan ministry didnt explain what time period it meant by a recent highChina which claims Taiwan as part of its territory has conducted increasingly large military drills in the air and waters around Taiwan as tensions have grown between the two and with the United States The US is Taiwans main supplier of arms and opposes any attempt to change Taiwans status by forceThe Chinese government would prefer that Taiwan come under its control voluntarily and last week unveiled a plan for an integrated development demonstration zone in Fujian province trying to entice the Taiwanese even as it threatens the island militarily in what experts say is Chinas longrunning carrot and stick approach The recent actions may be an attempt to sway Taiwans presidential election in JanuaryThe governing Democratic Progressive Party which leans toward formal independence for the island is anathema to the Chinese leadership China favours opposition candidates who advocate working with the mainlandThe presidential candidates had no immediate comment Monday on the latest Chinese military activity Taiwans Defense Ministry said 40 of the planes crossed the symbolic median line between mainland China and the islandThey included more than 30 fighter jets as well as midair refuelling tanker planes Taiwan also reported nine Chinese naval vessels in area waters in the previous 24 hoursThe ministry called the Chinese military action iquestharassmentiquest that it warned could escalate in the current tense atmosphere We urge the Beijing authorities to bear responsibility and immediately stop such kind of destructive military activities it said in a statementChinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning asked about the reported military activity said there is no such thing as a median line because Taiwan is part of Chinese territoryChina last week sent a flotilla of ships including the aircraft carrier Shandong into waters near Taiwan The drills came shortly after the US and Canada sailed warships through the Taiwan Strait the waters that separate the island from the mainlandTaiwan and China split in 1949 when the Communists took control of China during a civil war The losing Nationalists fled to Taiwan and set up their own government on the islandOnly a few foreign nations give the island official diplomatic recognition The US among others has formal ties with China while maintaining a representative office in Taiwan