Illustration shows airplane, Chinese and Taiwanese flags

Airplane is seen in front of Chinese and Taiwanese flags in this illustration, August 6, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights

TAIPEI – Taiwan’s defence ministry said that it had detected 15 Chinese air force planes entering Taiwan’s air defence zone on Thursday morning, including fighter jets and drones, accompanying Chinese warships carrying out “combat readiness patrols” and drills.

Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has repeatedly complained over the past four years of Chinese military activity around the island.

Reporting by Ben Blanchard Editing by Shri Navaratnam