China deployed about 20 fighter jets and drones as part of a “joint combat readiness patrol” around Taiwan on Sunday, Taiwanese authorities said.
Taiwan's Defense Ministry said it spotted 19 Chinese aircraft on Sunday, including fighter jets and drones, near the island for about four hours, as part of Beijing's “joint combat readiness patrol” with warships.
This is the third such patrol reported by the Ministry of Defense in October.
“The Taiwanese military has closely monitored the situation through joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, deploying aircraft, warships and ground-based missile systems as an appropriate response,” the ministry said.
China on Saturday evening condemned the sale of US missile systems to Taiwan that Washington approved on Friday, denouncing the action that “seriously harms China-US relations” and “endangers peace” in the region.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a press release published on Saturday that the sale of surface-to-air missile systems to Taiwan “seriously violates China's sovereignty and security interests, seriously harms China-US relations, and endangers peace and stability” across the Strait. evening.
The document states that Beijing can take “all necessary measures to vigorously defend its national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.”
The $1.16 billion deal, which still has to be verified by Congress, includes various anti-aircraft systems, including NASAMS and 123 missiles, according to the US agency responsible for selling military equipment to the outsider.
Another sale announced on Friday involved radar systems for a total of $828 million. The equipment will be taken directly from US Air Force stocks.
Taiwan's Defense Ministry expressed “sincere gratitude” on Saturday for the sale, which could help the military “continue to improve its defense capabilities and jointly maintain cross-Strait peace and stability.”
The United States does not recognize Taiwan as a state and considers the People's Republic of China the only legitimate government, but it nonetheless provides Taipei with significant military aid.
Beijing regularly opposes US support for Taiwan and accuses Washington of interfering in its affairs.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory, and has not yet been able to reunite it with the rest, since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949.
While it says it supports “peaceful reunification,” it has never renounced the use of military force and regularly sends warships and fighter planes around the island.
In mid-October, Taiwan spotted a record number of 153 Chinese aircraft in one day near the island after a day of Chinese military maneuvers.
A month earlier, Beijing imposed sanctions on American defense companies, in response to Washington's approval to sell military equipment to Taiwan.
