Taiwan says Chinese warplanes approached close to island’s coast

On Saturday, eight Chinese warplanes crossed the Taiwan Strait's median line and neared the island's contiguous zone, which lies 24 nautical miles (44 km) off the shore, the Taiwanese defence ministry said, escalating tensions. Over the last three years, China's air force has repeatedly flown into Taiwan's airspace. It has been sending planes across the strait's median line, which had previously operated as an unofficial barrier, on a regular basis since August. Beijing claims Taiwan, which is democratically governed, as Chinese territory. Taiwan's administration denies the accusations, claiming that only the people of the island can decide their fate. In…