China Stages Its Biggest Incursions Around Taiwan

China is staging one of its biggest incursions so far in the seas and skies around Taiwan, according to data from the island's defense ministry, China’s military sent 71 planes and seven ships toward Taiwan in a 24-hour display of force directed at the island, Taiwan’s defense ministry said Monday after China expressed anger at Taiwan-related provisions in a U.S. annual defense spending bill passed on Saturday.

China’s military harassment of self-ruled Taiwan, which it claims is its own territory, has intensified in recent years, and the Communist Party’s People’s Liberation Army has sent planes or ships toward the island on a near-daily basis. Taiwan is self-ruled - but China sees it as a breakaway province with which it will eventually reunite.

Taiwan is self-ruled - but China sees it as a breakaway province with which it will eventually reunite. Among the planes, China sent toward Taiwan were 18 J-16 fighter jets, 11 J-1 fighters, 6 Su-30 fighters, and drones.

“With regard to the Ukraine crisis, we have consistently upheld the fundamental principles of objectivity and impartiality, without favoring one side or the other, or adding fuel to the fire, still less seeking selfish gains from the situation,” Wang said, according to an official text of his remarks.