Taipei, Taiwan (AP) – China sent 74 war planes towards TAIWAN Between late Thursday and early Friday, 61 of which crossed the central line in the Taiwan Strait that unofficially divides the sides, an extremely large number as Tensions remained adult in the region.

It was not clear why So many planes They collided between Late Thursday and Friday at the beginning, as it was signed by the Taiwan Ministry of Defense. The planes were sent in two separate installments, she added.

China considers Taiwan its territory and uses such placements to advertise its threat to besieged and maybe conquer Self -governing island. China also hopes to intimidate Taiwan’s population of 23 million and to wear its equipment and the moral of its armed forces.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan “confirmed and welcomed” the transit of the patrol craft off the British Navy Coast HMS Spey through the Taiwan Strait the day before. The ship’s transit, the ministry said: “Once again (reaffirmed Strait status) as international waters.”

“Such transitions from the United Kingdom and other countries with mind are encouraged to defend peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and promote a free and open Indo-opening,” the Foreign Ministry said.

The British representative office in Taipei said in a statement that Spey had developed a navigation of the Taiwan Strait in accordance with the law and international rights provided for under the United Nations Convention on Sea.

“Wherever the royal navy is functioning, it does so in full compliance with international law and exercises its right to freedom of navigation and congestion,” the statement added.

China responded angrily, saying that the command of the Eastern Theater of the Library Army of the People “organized troops to monitor and preserve the whole process and responded effectively and was treated with it.”

The British ship’s action “intentionally concerned the situation and undermined the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait,” the Eastern Theater command said in a statement.

The wonderful Taiwan strait stands in international waters, but China opposes any transit or activity inside it by foreign military ships.

It was not clear whether the large number of Chinese warplanes sent on Thursday and Friday had to do with the previous navigation of the British ship.

Six military ships accompanied Chinese planes, which went from drones to war planes and early warning and other supporting planes. Taiwan laid ships, combat interceptors and land -based missile systems in response.