China shows strong military presence near Taiwan

China sent 43 military aircraft and seven ships close to Taiwan in a 24-hour period spanning Tuesday morning to Wednesday morning, according to the self-ruled island’s Defense Ministry. By 6 a.m. Wednesday, Taiwan said 37 of the aircraft had crossed the Taiwan Strait, an informal divider that China no longer recognizes. Taiwan officials believe China aims to break down Taiwanese morale and wear down their equipment. China’s second-ranking military official reiterated Monday at an international defense forum in Beijing that the Chinese government would never allow Taiwan to split from China.

How has Taiwan responded? Taiwan has a standard response to Chinese military activities that includes dispatching ships, activating land-based missile systems, and scrambling to ready its fighter jets. Taiwan has also increased its defense budget, which allows it to purchase new equipment from the United States as well as domestically produce arms, which have included a submarine.

Dig deeper: Read June Cheng’s report in WORLD Magazine on the historical tension between Taiwan and China.