Taiwan is pushing fighter jets as 18 Chinese aircraft approach during a US official's visit
Taiwan launched fighter jets on Friday as 18 Chinese planes took off on the island as they crossed the central line of the sensitive Taiwan Strait in response to a senior US official holding talks in Taipei.
Earlier, China announced combat exercises and condemned what it described as collusion between the island, which it considers part of its territory, and the United States.
US Under Secretary of State Keith Crash arrived in Taipei on Thursday for a three-day visit, and is the most senior US State Department official to visit Taiwan in four decades.
China promised "the necessary response" to the visit.
The US State Department said that Crash, who arrived in Taipei yesterday afternoon, is visiting Taiwan to attend a memorial service to be held tomorrow, Saturday, for former President Lee Tinghui, who was held by many on the island and abroad as the founder of the democratic system on the island.
But Beijing is following with growing concern the close relationship between Taipei and Washington, and has intensified military exercises near the island, including air and sea exercises it conducted over two days last week.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is leading the Trump administration's media attack on China, described Beijing as bravado when asked about Chinese activity.
"We sent a delegation to the funeral, and it seems that the Chinese responded with military bravado," he said in a press conference.
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said the exercises, about which he did not elaborate, were taking place near the Taiwan Strait and that the Eastern Command of the Chinese army was participating.
"It is a logical and necessary measure aimed at the current situation in the Taiwan Strait and the protection of national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Ren added.
He added that Taiwan is a purely internal Chinese affair and does not accept any foreign interference.
"The United States and the PDP authorities have intensified their complicity recently, which has led to frequent unrest," Ren said, referring to Taiwan's ruling party.
He added that the attempt to "use Taiwan to control China" or "rely on foreigners to build oneself" is just one of the aspirations that cannot be fulfilled on the ground.
"He who plays with fire will burn," he said.
Taiwan's "Liberty Times" newspaper said that Taiwan Air Force fighters launched 17 times this morning, Friday morning, over four hours to warn the Chinese air force to stay away.
It also posted a photo of missiles being loaded on an F-16 at Hualien Air Force Base on Taiwan's east coast.
China's announcement of the exercises came as Crash started the first full day of his visit to Taiwan, but began the visit without media coverage and without media events open to his agenda.
China threatened that it would take "the necessary response" to the visit, which put more pressure on the already deteriorating relations between Beijing and Washington and between China and Taiwan.
The Taiwan president's office urged China to exercise restraint and the Taiwanese to remain calm, saying the military is in control of the situation.
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