TAIPEI — Three U.S. Air Force planes, including two B-52 bombers, flew near Taiwan on Wednesday, the island's defense ministry said, after Taiwan's air force scrambled earlier in the week to intercept Chinese jets. The United States is Taiwan's most important international backer, even in the absence of formal diplomatic ties, and is also the island's main source of arms. Tensions spiked between Taiwan and China, which claims the island as its own, on Sunday and Monday, as Taiwan sent F-16s to shadow approaching Chinese bombers and fighters. China has been flying what it calls "island encirclement" drills on-off since 2016 when Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen first took office. Beijing believes Tsai, who won re-election last month, wishes to push the island's formal independence.

Source: International New York Times February 12, 2020 08:33 UTC