China Buzzes Taiwan Air Space Ahead of Visit by U.S. Official

TAIPEI, TAIWAN — Two Chinese aircraft flew into Taiwanese air space on Wednesday, Sept.

16.

The incursion came in advance of Thursday's visit to Taiwan by Undersecretary of State Keith Krach, the highest-ranking U.S. cabinet member to visit Taiwan since 1979.

Two Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft briefly entered Taiwan's air defense identification zone early on Wednesday, the defense ministry said on Thursday.

Taiwan deployed fighter jets and issued radio warnings to ward off the Chinese planes.

Also on Wednesday, a Chinese warship sailed just 24 nautical miles from Taiwan's east coast before it disappeared early Thursday morning, Taiwan's Central News Agency reported.

Undersecretary of State Keith Krach is expected to discuss weapons sales during his time in Taiwan.

According to reports in the New York Times and Reuters, the Trump administration is pushing the sale of seven major weapons systems, including cruise missiles Taiwan could fire from its F-16s to hit targets in China.