Chinese Warplanes Fly Close To Median Line Of Taiwan Strait, Pelosi Lands In Malaysia

Several Chinese warplanes were seen flying close to the median line of the Taiwan Strait, a source briefed on the matter told Reuters. The source added that several Chinese warships have stayed near the median line since Monday.

• The median line is an unofficial boundary in the Taiwan Strait, which has never been enshrined in any formal agreement. China has regularly exploited legal ambiguity around the median line, using warplane incursions to signal its displeasure with Taipei's actions.
• There have been reports noting that Taiwan Defence Ministry is strengthening combat readiness until Thursday albeit without formally raising its alert level. It has also deployed additional fighter jets to the Taitung base in the southeast part of Taiwan.
• Note that U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has just touched down in Kuala Lumpur. Another U.S. Air Force plane identical to the one used by Pelosi is en route from an air base in Japan towards Malaysia, sparking speculation that both aircraft could later depart to Taiwan to confuse China.