China buzzes Taiwanese air space ahead of visit by U.S. cabinet official

RESTRICTIONS: Broadcast: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN Digital: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE 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.

RUNDOWN SHOWS:
1. Two Chinese aircraft fly into Taiwanese air space on Sept. 16
2. Two Chinese Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft enter Taiwan's air space on Sept. 15
3. Chinese warship sails 24 nautical miles from Taiwan's east coast on Sept. 15
4. China fires Long March-11 HY2 rocket over Taiwan on Sept. 14
5. Chinese fighter planes and Chinese warships conduct exercises in Taiwan's southwestern air defense identification zone on Sept. 9
6. Five weapons systems the U.S. may sell to Taiwan

VOICEOVER (in English):
"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."

"And on Tuesday, China fired a Long March-11 HY2 rocket over Taiwan from a platform in the Yellow Sea, according to the Chinese state-affiliated Global Times."

"China has dramatically escalated incursions into Taiwanese air space in recent weeks. On Sept. 9, 30 Chinese fighter planes and seven Chinese warships conducted joint air and sea exercises in Taiwan's southwestern air defense identification zone, 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."

SOURCES: Central News Agency (Taiwan), Taipei Times, Reuters, New York Times, South China Morning Post

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