Taiwan's Defense Ministry has detected five planes and five Chinese ships approaching the island

Taiwan's Defense Ministry reported on Dec. 29 that five aircraft and five ships of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) approached the island.

"Five PLA aircraft and five PLA ships operating around Taiwan were detected today. Three aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern air defense (air defense) zone," the press office informed on X (formerly Twitter).

It also said the Taiwanese government was monitoring the situation and responded appropriately.

Earlier, on December 28, Taiwan's Defense Ministry reported seven PRC planes and five ships approaching the island. One of the planes crossed the median line and entered the northern air defense zone.

On December 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 December 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.