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China sends jets to Taiwanese air defense identification zone, Taipei says

According to Taiwanese Defense Ministry, Chinese aviation flew over sea southwest of the island

HONG KONG /XIANGGANG/, April 15. /TASS/. Chinese Air Forces sent six planes to Taiwanese air defense identification zone, Taiwanese Defense Ministry announced on its website Friday.

According to the Ministry, Chinese aviation flew over sea southwest of the island. The maneuver involved J-11 and J-16 multipurpose jets. In response, Taiwanese military started broadcasting radio warnings and deployed missile air defense systems.

Chinese aviation has been crossing into the Taiwanese air defense identification zone regularly in the recent months. Observers connect the current entry to the US senators’ visit to the island. On Friday, they had a meeting with the Taiwanese administration head Tsai Ing-wen.

Beijing stated that Chinese authorities will take measures in regards to this visit, which they see as "a violation of Chinese sovereignty." Chinese military command announced its plans to hold military exercise in the East China Sea and in the Taiwan area with involvement of aviation and the Navy.

In 1979, the US cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan and established them with mainland China. While recognizing the "one China policy," Washington continues to maintain contacts with the self-governing island and ships weapons there, which causes protests in the mainland China, which sees Taiwan as an integral part of Chinese territory, opposing any separatist intentions.

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