Taiwan Monitors Chinese Military Activity Nearby

Taiwan's Ministry of Defense announced that it "monitored 10 Chinese warplanes flying near the island on Saturday." It also reported the presence of several Chinese warships. The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense stated that it "observed J-10, J-11, J-16 fighter jets, and early warning aircraft operating in the airspace over northern, central, and southwestern Taiwan since 1:30 PM local time (0530 GMT)." It noted that "10 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait or were in nearby areas, conducting joint combat readiness patrols with Chinese warships." Campaigns are currently being organized in preparation for the presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled to take place in Taiwan on January 13, where relations with China are a major point of contention.