The Taiwanese military spotted 71 Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) planes approaching the island on Saturday. informed TASS in reference to the Taiwanese Defense Department statement.
Earlier on April 8, 29 aircraft crossed the center line of the Taiwan Strait in its northern, central and southern parts, and also entered the island’s air defense identification zone.
On Saturday morning, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) announcement that from April 8 to 10, it will conduct military exercises in the Taiwan region, writes Interfax with reference to the statement of the representative of the Eastern Zone of the Chinese army’s combat command, Colonel Shi Yi.
“The PLA Eastern Combat Command Area, in accordance with the plan from April 8 to 10, 2023, in accordance with the combat readiness test plan, will conduct patrols around Taiwan and joint sword drills in the Strait of Taiwan, as well as at sea and airspace in areas north, south and east of Taiwan,” the Chinese colonel said in a widely broadcast message.
Shortly before, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that Beijing will respond to the meeting in California between the speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress, Kevin McCarthy, and the head of the Taiwanese administration, Tsai Ing-wen, who was in the United States.
On Saturday, US House of Representatives Committee Chairman Michael McCall in an interview with Fox News declared that the US Congress would likely support sending US troops to Taiwan “if China invades”.
“I think if Communist China invades Taiwan, then if the American people support sending troops, so will Congress,” McCall said.
