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China Sends Warplanes Over Taiwan as US Envoy Visits

John Xie

   China sent almost 20 warplanes into Taiwan's airspace in an unusually
   large show of force as a response to a senior U.S. official's visit to
   the self-governing island.

   Eighteen Chinese military aircraft, including two H-6 strategic bombers
   and fighter jets, crossed the so-called median line on Friday morning,
   according to a statement from Taiwan's defense ministry: "The military
   scrambled fighters and deployed air defense missile systems to monitor
   the activities."

   Keith Krach, U.S. undersecretary for economic affairs, arrived in
   Taiwan on Thursday to attend a memorial service for former President
   Lee Teng-hui. He is the highest-level official from the U.S. State
   Department to visit Taipei in decades.

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