Taiwan concerned about Chinese air patrols

China flew military aircraft into Taiwan's air defense identification zone "almost every day" in June, Taiwan's foreign minister said on Wednesday. Joseph Wu said local media had reported just "10 to 11" incidents, but actually, it happened a lot more frequently.

Wu also said that if the U.K. were to start conducting freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea, in order to reinforce Taiwan's maritime rights, "that is something that we would not oppose."

He made the statement during a media briefing to foreign journalists stationed in Taiwan.

The minister also said that Taiwan's desire to be part of the World Health Organization (WHO) would not change, despite the United States' withdrawal next July.

Until then, "the U.S. is still a member state (...) and a very powerful one within the WHO," he said.

"Following our discussions with the U.S. government, the U.S. will keep on supporting Taiwan's bid to be part of the WHO."

Wu said that Taiwan's strategy was to join the U.N. health body and form an "even closer cooperation with other like-minded (members)."

Taiwan is currently excluded from the WHO and can't attend World Health Assembly meetings.