China had protested what it called "close-in reconnaissance" of Chinese territory by the U.S. military in the past.

China has claimed that the self-ruled Taiwan is part of its territory and has refused to renounce using force against it.

In total, 35 Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and six warships were detected around the nation during China’s “joint combat readiness patrols,” the ministry said.

Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), is an island separated from China by the Taiwan Strait. Mainland China, officially the People’s Republic of China (PRC), is under Chinese ...