21 Chinese military planes, 5 naval vessels surround Taiwan

By Faruk Zorlu

ANKARA (AA) – Taiwan said on Saturday that 21 Chinese military aircraft and five naval vessels were detected surrounding the self-ruled island.

The Defense Ministry of the island nation said 13 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft crossed the imaginary median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the air defense identification zone (ADIZ).

Beijing, which refers to Taiwan as a "breakaway province," does not recognize the median line and the ADIZ. Taiwan, however, has insisted on its independence since 1949.

The Chinese military also conducted a live-fire drill on Friday, when US Senator Marsha Blackburn met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

The US senator, who arrived in Taipei on Thursday night, called for Taiwan's "independence and freedom" during a meeting with the president.

It was the fourth visit by US lawmakers to Taiwan since early this month, despite Beijing's strong opposition, which sees such trips as a violation of its sovereignty.