Ahead of the US House Speaker's arrival in Taiwan, a number of Chinese warplanes flew close to the median line dividing the Taiwan Strait, a source told Reuters.
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to arrive in Taipei on Tuesday (2/8) evening, according to people familiar with the planned visit.
China has repeatedly warned Pelosi not to go to Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory.
While the United States said Monday it would not be intimidated by China's "sword bluff" over Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.
Apart from warplanes flying close to the Taiwan Strait center line early Tuesday, several Chinese warships have remained near the unofficial dividing line since Monday, the source told Reuters.
Both Chinese warships and warplanes approached the center line of the Taiwan Strait early Tuesday, an unusual move that the sources described as "highly provocative".
The source said the Chinese warplanes made repeated tactical moves, briefly "touching" the median line and turning back to the other side of the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday morning. Taiwanese fighter jets are on standby nearby.
In a statement on Tuesday, Taiwan's Defense Ministry said it has full understanding of military activities near Taiwan and will deploy troops appropriately in response to "enemy threats".
China's Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters.
In the southeastern Chinese city of Xiamen, which lies across from Taiwan, residents reported sightings of armored vehicles moving on Tuesday and posted photos and videos online.
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