Keeping up pressure, China sends warships and fighter jets near Taiwan during Yellen's Beijing visit
Taiwan's Defense Ministry says China has sent 13 aircraft and 6 vessels to airspace and waters around Taiwan as of early Saturday BEIJING -- China’s People’s Liberation Army sent 13 aircraft and 6 vessels into airspace and waters around Taiwan over the past 24 hours as of early Saturday, overlapping with United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s visit to Beijing aimed at mending strained relations. Taiwan's Defense Ministry said it is monitoring the situation from the air and sea, and land-based missile systems were prepared to respond. It said four Chinese aircraft — two SU-30 fight ers, one BZK-005 reconnaissance plane and one Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane — crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait that serves as a de-facto border between the sides, and had entered Taiwan's southwestern air defense identification zone. China claims Taiwan as its own territory to be annexed by force if necessary and sends air and naval missions on virtually a daily basis in...