China sends dozens of warplanes toward the island, Taiwan prepares for anti-invasion

China sent dozens of warplanes, including fighter jets and bombers, toward Taiwan, island's Defense Ministry said Saturday, marking a forceful display days before democracy plans to hold military exercises aimed at defending itself against a possible invasion.
Taiwan is due to hold its annual Han Kuang exercise next week, during which its military will hold combat reiness drills for preventing an invasion. It will also conduct annual Wan'an exercises aimed at preparing civilians for natural disasters and practicing evacuations in case of an air raid.
Chinese People's Liberation Army sent 37 aircraft and seven navy vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday, ministry said in a statement. Among m were J-10 and J-16 fighters and H-6 bombers, and 22 of detected warplanes crossed midline of Taiwan Strait — an unofficial boundary that h been considered a buffer between island and mainland — or entered Taiwan's air defense identification zone near its sourn part, statement said.
Taiwan and China split in 1949 following a civil war that ended with ruling Communist Party in control of mainland. island has never been part of People's Republic of China, but Beijing says it must unite with mainland.
In recent years, China has shown displeasure at political activities in Taiwan by stepping up number of military planes sent toward island.
China held huge military drills in response to former United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in August. It fired missiles over island in a significant escalation that disrupted tre lanes in Taiwan Strait and forced airplanes to reroute flights.
In April, PLA also held large-scale combat reiness drills in air and sea around island in response to Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen meeting with current U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.