Chinese jets again fly toward Taiwan

TAIPEI, Taiwan — China sent more warplanes toward this nation for a second day Saturday as the island’s leader, senior government officials and a high-level U.S. envoy paid tribute to the man who led Taiwan’s transition to democracy, former President Lee Teng-hui.

Keith Krach, the U.S. undersecretary for state, kept a low profile at the service. His presence at the event and on the island has drawn a rebuke from China, which sent 18 warplanes across the midline of the Taiwan Strait on Friday in an unusually large display of force.

On Saturday, Beijing dispatched 19 more warplanes, two of which were bombers, according to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry. The island’s air force scrambled its own planes and deployed an air defense missile system to monitor China’s activities, according to a statement.

The service was held at the Aletheia University in Taipei on a balmy Saturday morning, with President Tsai Ing-wen honoring Lee for bringing a peaceful political transition to the island democracy.

Lee had built a separate Taiwanese political identity, distinct from mainland China, which claims Taiwan as part of its own territory to be reunited by force if necessary. Lee’s carving out of a non-Chinese identity and insistence that the island be treated as an equal country brought him into direct conflict with Beijing. He died July 30 at age 97.

“We have a responsibility to continue his endeavors, allowing the will of the people to reshape Taiwan, further defining Taiwan’s identity and deepening and bolstering democracy and freedom,” Tsai said.

The Trump administration has taken multiple steps in recent months to strengthen its engagement with Taiwan, angering China.

Krach is the second high-level official to visit Taiwan in two months, following U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar in August.

Unlike Azar’s visit, Krach’s was held mostly behind closed doors. On Friday, he held talks with Taiwan’s minister of economic affairs and the vice premier, in addition to local business leaders. He also dined with Tsai.

China has condemned the visit multiple times. On Friday, fighter jets from the People’s Liberation Army flew into the island’s air defense identification zone, at least the second round of war games this month aimed at intimidating supporters of the island’s independent political identity.