Chinese military aircraft, ships spotted near Taiwan after US held drills in South China Sea

Nearly two dozen Chinese military planes and ships were spotted near Taiwan Monday morning after the US Navy and Marine Corps held joint drills in the South China Sea over the weekend.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said 18 PLA planes were spotted, 11 of which crossed the Taiwan Strait median line, an unofficial buffer zone between the island and China. Four ships were also spotted near Taiwan.

China’s incursions have become an almost daily occurrence in recent months, but the latest sign of aggression comes just days after the US Navy and Marine Corps conducted joint exercises in the South China Sea.

FILE PHOTO: A Chinese military plane flies over Pingtan Island, one of mainland China’s closest points to Taiwan, in Fujian province. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

The USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted “integrated Expeditionary Strike Force” operations Saturday.

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“The mobility and sustainability that amphibious platforms provide gives the Navy and Marine Corps team an asymmetric advantage in a maritime environment,” the 7th Fleet stated.

“This seamless naval integration established a strong presence in the region that supports peace and stability.”

China’s claim to a large chunk of the South China Sea has put the country at odds with its neighbors in the region.

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In December, the Foreign Ministry called on China to “respect international law of the sea in the South China Sea,” saying its actions “reflect the continued disregard for other South China Sea aspirants and states lawfully operating in the region.”

The US’s recent drills also come amid heightened tensions between Beijing and Washington, DC

The Chinese spy balloon drifts to the ocean after being shot down off the coast of Surfside Beach, South Carolina, United States, on February 4, 2023. (REUTERS/Randall Hill)

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The US shot down a 200-foot Chinese surveillance balloon off the coast of South Carolina on February 4.

“Make no mistake: as we made clear last week, if China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country. And we did,” President Biden said in his State of the Union address last week.