UPDATE - Taiwan says it detected 36 Chinese aircraft around island

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS, CHANGES DECK

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - Taiwan on Friday detected at least 36 Chinese aircraft, the island nation’s Defense Ministry said.

It is the highest number of Chinese jets detected this year so far around the island nation.

It said 13 of the detected aircraft entered the air defense identification zone (ADIZ).

Besides, the ministry added, six Chinese naval vessels also operated near the island.

The armed forces have “monitored the situation and employed appropriate forces to respond,” said the ministry.

It also said China’s Long March 2D carrier rocket, which lifted a group of multirole satellites into orbit on Thursday, flew across the ADIZ.

The rocket had blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China.

China, which claims Taiwan as its “breakaway province,” does not recognize ADIZ.

Taiwan has insisted on its independence since 1949.