JAKARTA - Several Chinese warplanes flew close to the sensitive center line of the Taiwan Strait early Tuesday, a source briefed on the matter said.
This comes at a time of heightened tensions, as well as when tensions escalated over the unconfirmed news of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's planned visit to Taiwan.
The source told Reuters as quoted on Aug. 2 that several Chinese warships had remained near the unofficial dividing line since Monday, adding that Taiwan had sent planes to monitor the situation.
2, Taiwan's Ministry of Defense could not immediately respond to a request for comment on the development of the situation.
The source said both Chinese warships and planes "squeezed" the centerline early Tuesday, an unusual move the person described as "very provocative." No plane normally crosses the median line.
The person said the Chinese plane made repeated tactical moves by briefly "touching" the median line and turning back to the other side of the strait on Tuesday morning, while Taiwanese planes were on standby nearby.
It was reported earlier that the US military was moving assets, including aircraft carriers and large aircraft, closer to Taiwan ahead of a visit by US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, although this has not been confirmed.
The military initially opposed the Democratic Party politician's visit, but now appears to be creating a buffer zone for Pelosi's plane, should she decide to make it happen, Nikkei Asia quoted.
US naval assets in the region include the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), which has returned to the South China Sea after a port visit to Singapore last week, the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7), which is in the sea. near Okinawa and the amphibious assault ship USS America (CV-66) which was forwarded to Sasebo, Japan.
In the Pacific, the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), Landing Helicopter Dock USS Essex and 36 other warships and three submarines are in Hawaii, taking part in Exercise Pacific Rim (RIMPAC) which will conclude on Thursday.
Meanwhile, a flight tracking website shows two US Air Force HC-130J Combat King IIs have arrived in Okinawa from Anchorage. They were accompanied by several KC-135 Stratotankers, an aerial refueling aircraft.
China claims democratically-ruled Taiwan as its own territory and has stepped up military and political pressure to try and force the island to accept Chinese rule. Taiwan, on the other hand, rejected China's claims and vowed to defend itself.
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