Taiwan says 25 Chinese planes and 3 ships sent toward island amid rising tension

China sent 25 warplanes and three warships toward Taiwan on Wednesday morning, island's Defense Ministry said, as tensions remain high between Beijing and Taipei’s main backer Washington.

ministry said 19 of those planes crossed into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone while ships were continuing to operate in Taiwan Strait. It said Taiwan responded by scrambling fighters, dispatching ships and activating coastal missile defense systems to “closely monitor and respond.”

China stages such incursions on a near-daily basis, part of what are termed “gray zone" tactics, aimed at intimidation and wearing down Taiwan’s equipment, exhausting its personnel and degring public morale. Those also include cyberwarfare and disinformation campaigns, along with a relentless drive to deprive Taiwan of diplomatic allies.

Taiwan has responded by upgring its fleet of F-16 fighter jets and ordering 66 more of planes from U.S., while purchasing a range of or weaponry and extending its mandatory term of military service for all males from four months to one year.

Relations between Beijing and Washington, Taiwan’s primary ally and source of defensive weaponry, have spiraled over China’s actions toward island, tre, technology and South China Sea.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled a visit to Beijing last month after U.S. shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off U.S. east coast, drawing furious protests from China.

China claims Taiwan as its own territory to be brought under its control by force if necessary, and has been rapidly expanding its military to meet that challenge should it arise.

In memos and testimony, top U.S. officers have called for heightened preparations, saying China sees a shrinking window for action and may move on Taiwan within a few years.

China says it prefers peaceful unification between sides, but Taiwanese public overwhelmingly favors current state of de-facto independence.

Wednesday's incursions were relatively modest by recent standards. During China's National Day weekend in 2021, Beijing dispatched 149 military aircraft southwest of Taiwan in strike group formations. In August, in response to a trip to Taiwan by n-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, China staged war games surrounding island simulating a blocke and fired missiles over it into Pacific Ocean.

Along with ordering new hardware from U.S., Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has been pushing for a revitalization of domestic defense industry, including producing conventionally powered submarines.