Beijing flexes muscle with 33 warplanes, 5 vessels near Taiwan after President Lai 'country' remark

Furthermore, 21 aircraft, including Su-30 fighters and Shaanxi KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft, were observed operating near Taiwan between 9:40 a.m. and noon today, the ministry noted, mentioning that 16 of these aircraft crossed the median line into Taiwan's northern, central, southwestern, and eastern air defense identification zones. Out of the total aircraft, 24 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, entering Taiwan's northern, southwestern, and eastern air defence identification zones, according to the ministry's statement. Around 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Taiwanese fishermen reportedly spotted two Chinese vessels approximately 50 nautical miles (92.6 km) off the coast…