Did China deploy fighter jets after the US approved an arms sale to Taiwan?

Taiwan's defense ministry said it detected 19 Chinese aircraft, including fighter jets and drones, flying near the island for nearly four hours as part of China's "joint combat readiness patrol" around Taiwan today, October 27, according to AFP.

Chinese fighter jets drop bombs during a recent exercise.

Photo: Screenshot from Chinamil.com.cn

Taiwan's Ministry of Defense also stated that its defense forces have been closely monitoring the situation through joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems, and have deployed aircraft, military vessels, and onshore missile systems as an appropriate response.

Taiwan detected the Chinese aircraft after the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement on October 26 strongly condemning the US approval of a $2 billion arms sale to Taiwan and sending a "serious protest" to the US. According to Reuters, citing the statement, China called on the US to immediately stop supplying weapons to Taiwan and cease dangerous actions that undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Furthermore, China's Taiwan Affairs Office said today that the latest arms package shows Washington "repeatedly contradicting its leaders' promises not to support 'Taiwan independence'... and harming peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait region."

Earlier, on October 25, the US State Department approved a $2 billion arms sale to Taiwan, including the first-ever delivery of the advanced anti-aircraft missile system (NASAMS) to the island, according to AFP.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/trung-quoc-dieu-chien-dau-co-sau-khi-my-duyet-goi-ban-vu-khi-cho-dai-loan-18524102718274806.htm