Beijing deployed 14 warships, seven military aircraft, and four balloons near the island of Taiwan in a 24-hour period, Taipei defense officials said Sunday. The military activities, reported by the Associated Press, occurred between 6 a.m. Saturday and 6 a.m. Sunday, coinciding with speculation about possible Chinese military exercises following Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te's recent diplomatic tour of Pacific allies.
The island's Defense Ministry said six of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial boundary between the two territories. One balloon traversed the island's northern tip, according to ministry officials who spoke to the Associated Press.
The demonstrations of military presence come as Lai concludes his first overseas trip since taking office in May, which included visits to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau – three of Taiwan's 12 remaining diplomatic allies. His journey also featured stops in Hawaii and Guam, where he held phone conversations with US Congress leaders, drawing sharp criticism from Beijing.
Responding to the military activity, Lai on Friday urged China to cease its threatening behavior. "These exercises will not be able to win the respect of neighboring countries," he said in comments reported by Associated Press.
China claims Taiwan, a democracy of 23 million people, as its territory and has promised to annex it, including by military force if necessary. The Chinese government regularly conducts military operations near the island and objects to other nations' formal interactions with Taiwan.
