Taiwan's Defense Ministry reported seven PRC planes and five ships approaching the island

Taiwan reported the approach of seven aircraft and five ships of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). Taiwan's Ministry of Defense said on December 28.

"Seven PLA aircraft and five PLA ships drifting around Taiwan were detected today. One of the planes crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern air defense (air defense) zone," the ministry's press office informed on the X network (formerly Twitter).

In addition, the message said that the Taiwanese government monitored the situation and responded appropriately.

Earlier, on December 26, Taiwan's Ministry of Defense reported about the approach to the island of five ships of the People's Republic of China during the day. The ministry noted that compared to previous days, no PLA Air Force aircraft were detected near the island's shores.

Prior to that, on December 25, Taiwan's Defense Ministry said that three aircraft and six Chinese PLA ships approached the island. The ministry was closely monitoring the developments.

Later on Dec. 22, China's Foreign Ministry expressed strong dissatisfaction with U.S. military aid to Taiwan and called on Washington to stop carrying out dangerous actions that undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

On Dec. 20, it was reported that the U.S. State Department approved the possible sale of a military communications system and related equipment to Taipei's economic and cultural representative office in the United States at an estimated cost of $265 million. At the same time, current U.S. President Joe Biden ordered $571 million in military aid to Taiwan.

The conflict between China and Taiwan escalated after former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island in August 2022. The Chinese side considers Taiwan its territory, so it views visits to the island by officials from other countries as support for Taiwan's independence.

Official relations between the PRC government and its island province broke down in 1949 when the Kuomintang forces led by Chiang Kai-shek, who lost in a civil war with the Communist Party of China, moved to Taiwan. Contacts between the island and mainland China resumed in the late 1980s. The U.S. openly supports the Taiwanese authorities.