Taiwan detects 26 Chinese aircraft, five ships around island

Taiwan’s defense ministry detected 26 Chinese aircraft and 5 naval vessels around the island in the last 24 hours, with 17 planes crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait. The sorties come weeks before Taiwan’s new president Lai Ching-te, viewed by China as a separatist, takes office on May 20. Tensions have ramped up as Taiwan rejects China’s claims over the island. The incident follows Manila summoning a Chinese envoy over a water cannon incident damaging Philippine vessels in the disputed South China Sea amid joint US-Philippines military drills in the region. Photo: Reuters/Carlos Garcia Rawlins