China sends a record 16 warships to circle Taiwan

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Taiwan’s defense ministry announced at the weekend that China sent a record 16 warships to circle the island nation on Friday, the Global Times reports. While Taiwan is an independent democratic country, China has long maintained that the island is part of its mainland which has caused the Taiwanese to live under the constant threat of invasion.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) routinely sends warships close to Taiwan, but not usually more than four a day, the Global Times said. However, the Taiwanese defense authority said it detected 15 PLA aircraft and 16 PLA vessels operating around the island of Taiwan on Friday.

“The record number came after the PLA increased the scale of its daily exercises and patrols around the island of Taiwan over the past week, sending nine vessels on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, all accompanied by large-scale activities of fighters, bombers, special mission aircraft and drones in the air,” the Global Times said in its report.

Taiwanese media reported that the PLA’s conduct on Friday was likely intended to show off its ability to blockade the island, the Global Times said.

China’s heightened activity around Taiwan comes amid the US House’s recent passing of the National Defense Authorization Act 2024, the release of the NATO summit communiqué, and joint exercises by the US, the UK, Australia, and Japan, the Global Times noted.

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