TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan’s defence ministry mentioned it detected 23 Chinese language air drive planes working round Taiwan and finishing up “joint fight readiness patrols” with Chinese language warships on Friday, forward of high-level China-U.S. talks in Thailand.

China, which views Taiwan as its personal territory, has over the previous 4 years usually despatched warplanes and warships into the skies and waters across the island because it seeks to say sovereignty claims that the Taipei authorities rejects.

Taiwan’s defence ministry mentioned that beginning round 4 p.m. (0800 GMT) on Friday it had detected 23 Chinese language plane together with Su-30 fighters and drones working off northern and central Taiwan and to the island’s southwest.

13 of these plane crossed the Taiwan Strait’s median line, or areas shut by, working with Chinese language warships to hold out “joint fight readiness patrols”, the ministry added.

The strait’s median line as soon as served as an unofficial barrier between the 2 sides, however Chinese language planes now usually fly over it. China says it doesn’t recognise the road’s existence.

Taiwan despatched its personal forces to watch, its defence ministry mentioned.

There was no quick response from China’s defence ministry.

The exercise comes as U.S. Nationwide Safety Advisor Jake Sullivan and Chinese language International Minister Wang Yi put together to fulfill in Bangkok, constructing on a pledge by the leaders of the world’s two largest economies to deepen dialogue.

The officers will meet on Friday and Saturday, slightly greater than two months after U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese language President Xi Jinping met for about 4 hours on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco.

Biden and Xi agreed to open a presidential hotline, resume military-to-military communications, and work to curb fentanyl manufacturing, however remained at odds over Taiwan, which enjoys robust U.S. backing regardless of the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

China’s international ministry mentioned earlier on Friday that Taiwan could be a topic for dialogue.

Taiwan elected a brand new president earlier this month, Lai Ching-te from the ruling Democratic Progressive Get together. China views Lai, who takes workplace on Might 20, as a harmful separatist and has rebuffed his gives of talks.

Taiwan’s authorities says solely Taiwan’s individuals can resolve their future.