Taiwan has scrambled its fighter jets, alerted its navy and activated missile systems due to 34 Chinese military aircraft and nine warships operating nearby.
The self-governing island democracy has been preparing for a potential blockade or military action against them, as their Defense Ministry said 20 Chinese aircraft crossed the central line in the Taiwan Strait, which has long been considered a de facto buffer zone since the island’s separation in 1949 after its civil war.
Photo credits: AP Photo Johnson Lai, File / PLA Navy