Beijing - The Chinese military said on Wednesday it had conducted a combat "readiness patrol" in the seas and airspace around Taiwan in recent days, saying it was a necessary action to respond to "collusion" between Washington and Taipei.

China sent 30 military aircraft toward the island on Monday in an ongoing campaign of regular flights. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said it responded by scrambling jets, putting air defense missile systems on alert and issuing radio warnings.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth on Tuesday reiterated America’s support for Taiwan on her second visit in a year to the self-governing island claimed by China.

Duckworth, meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, emphasized the close economic, political and security relations between Taipei and Washington.

China has been particularly unhappy with U.S. support for Taiwan.

U.S. President Joe Biden angered China last week by appearing to signal a change in an American policy of "strategic ambiguity" on Taiwan by saying the United States would become involved militarily if China were to attack the island. U.S. officials said there had been no change in policy.

In a statement, the People's Liberation Army Eastern Theatre Command said the combat "readiness patrol" had happened around Taiwan in recent days and was "a necessary action against U.S.-Taiwan collusion".

Taiwan has complained repeatedly of such missions in its Air Defence Identification Zone, or ADIZ.

No shots have been fired and the Chinese aircraft have not been flying in Taiwan's air space, but in its ADIZ, a broader area Taiwan monitors and patrols that acts to give it more time to respond to any threats.

Taiwan says only its people have the right to decide the island's future, rebuffing China's sovereignty claims.
-Reuters/Ap