Continuous tensions between Taiwan and China. The Taipei government announced that in the last 24 hours, 26 planes and five ships of the Chinese military have been identified around the island. This is yet another signal from Beijing in view of the inauguration, scheduled for May 20, of the new president of Taiwan, Lai Ching-te, who China judges to be a separatist rebel. 

Seventeen planes "crossed the median line (of the Taiwan Strait) and entered (...) the Taiwan air defense identification zone", reads a statement from the Taiwanese defense ministry, led by Minister Chiu Kuo- cheng.

Newly elected President Lai Ching-te won the presidential election in January 2024, despite China's threat that his election would bring "war and decline" to the island. However, already during the presidency of Tsai Ing-wen, elected in 2016, relations between Beijing and Taipei had become tense as she and her government reject the claims of China, which wants to annex the island.