Taiwan scrambled jets to warn away 20 Chinese aircraft

News Desk: Taiwan scrambled jets on Saturday to warn away 20 Chinese aircraft including 14 that crossed the Taiwan Strait median line, Taiwan’s defence ministry said. It also detected 14 Chinese military ships conducting activities around the Taiwan Strait, the ministry said in a statement.

Amidst China’s military drills in the Taiwan Strait, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Saturday said that though US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Taipei visit was peaceful, Beijing launched 11 ballistic missiles. Blinken’s comment follows reports that Chinese aircraft and warships Saturday practised for an attack on Taiwan.  Meanwhile, an angry Beijing announced Friday it was halting dialogue with the US in a number of areas, including between top military commanders, on climate change, and exchanges on countering cross-border crime and drug trafficking, all moves Washington called “irresponsible.”