Taiwan says record 38 Chinese planes entered defence zone - BBC News

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Taiwan has reported 38 Chinese military jets flying into its air defence zone on Friday - the largest incursion by Beijing to date.

The defence ministry said the planes, including nuclear-capable bombers, entered the area in two waves.

Taiwan responded by scrambling its jets and deploying missile systems.

China sees democratic Taiwan as a breakaway province, but Taiwan sees itself as a sovereign state.

Taiwan has been complaining for more than a year about repeated missions by China's air force near the island.

"China has been wantonly engaged in military aggression, damaging regional peace," Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang told reporters on Saturday.

The government in Beijing - which is marking 72 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China - has so far made no public comment.

But it has previously said such flights were to protect its sovereignty and also targeted "collusion" between Taiwan and the US.

• What's behind the China-Taiwan divide?

In a statement, Taiwan's defence ministry said 25 People's Liberation Army (PLA) planes entered the south-western part of the air defence identification zone (ADIZ) during daylight hours, flying near the Pratas Islands atoll.

An air defence identification zone is an area outside of a country's territory and national airspace - but where foreign aircraft are still identified, monitored, and controlled in the interest of national security.

It is self-declared and technically remains international airspace.

This was followed by a second wave of 13 Chinese aircraft in the same area on Friday evening. They flew over waters between Taiwan and the Philippines.

25 PLA aircraft (J-16*18, SU-30*4, H-6*2 and Y-8 ASW) entered #Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ on October 1, 2021. Please check our official website for more information: https://t.co/C7012S8hSo pic.twitter.com/HoalLl3Ewx

— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) October 1, 2021

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter

The ministry said the Chinese aircraft included four H-6 bombers, which can carry nuclear weapons, as well as an anti-submarine aircraft.

Beijing often launches such missions to express displeasure at comments made by Taiwan.

It is not clear what prompted the latest mission.

China and Taiwan: The basics

• Why do China and Taiwan have poor relations? China and Taiwan were divided during a civil war in the 1940s, but Beijing insists the island will be reclaimed at some point, by force if necessary

• How is Taiwan governed? The island has its own constitution, democratically elected leaders, and about 300,000 active troops in its armed forces

• Who recognises Taiwan? Only a few countries recognise Taiwan. Most recognise the Chinese government in Beijing instead. The US has no official ties with Taiwan but does have a law which requires it to provide the island with the means to defend itself.

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Biden predicts $1.2tn infrastructure win after Capitol Hill visit - Financial Times

Joe Biden insisted that Democrats would pass his ambitious domestic spending agenda despite internal party feuding that has stymied its passage through Congress, saying “we’re going to get this done” after a rare Capitol Hill visit to lobby lawmakers.

Biden’s party is split over the two pillars of a sweeping legislative agenda on which he has staked his presidency: a $1.2tn infrastructure bill with bipartisan support and a $3.5tn spending package to improve America’s social safety net, which is opposed by Republicans and will need to pass both chambers of Congress with Democratic votes alone.

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Lawmakers were asked to surrender their phones before entering the private meeting, but members of Congress said afterwards that Biden had acknowledged that the $3.5tn bill would need to be pared back in order to pass the Senate.

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Pelosi had promised moderate Democrats a vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill on Monday, and then again on Thursday, but postponed the make-or-break vote after several days of crunch talks with members of her own party, the president and White House officials.

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Democrats in Washington fear that a failure to pass either piece of legislation could hurt the president’s party in a governor’s race in Virginia next month, as well as next year’s midterm elections, when control of both chambers of Congress will be up for grabs.

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Image: A satellite image of the lava flow on the island of La Palma taken before the eruption of a third fissure. Pic: Copernicus Sentinel-2 Imagery/ @DEFIS_EU/Reuters

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Sulphur dioxide levels in the area have risen but do not represent a health threat, La Palma's government has said.

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Lava cools in sea releasing toxic smoke

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People on the island have been carrying umbrellas and wearing face masks and eye protection against heavy falls of volcanic ash which has blanketed streets.

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Previous eruptions have lasted weeks or even months.

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