Taiwan says 21 Chinese aircraft detected in second ‘combat’ patrol in a week

WorldPolitics
26 May 2026 • 4:07 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Taiwan says 21 Chinese aircraft detected in second ‘combat’ patrol in a week

  • Taiwan detected 21 Chinese aircraft, including J-16 fighter jets and drones, and multiple warships conducting a "joint combat readiness patrol" around the island on Monday.
  • This marks the second such Chinese military exercise near Taiwan within a week, prompting Taiwan to deploy its own ships and fighter aircraft for monitoring.
  • China views Taiwan as its own territory and regularly conducts military operations around the island, while Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.
  • The latest patrol follows discussions between Chinese President Xi Jinping and American president Donald Trump regarding the dispute over Taiwan earlier this month.
  • Taiwan's defence ministry confirmed the "combat patrol" had concluded but continues to track the movements of the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning in the Western Pacific.

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