Maritime border crossed?

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Taiwan has reported sightings of 21 Chinese military aircraft off the self-governing island. The Ministry of Defense in Taipei said on Saturday that 17 of the planes had crossed the unofficial maritime border known as the median line, one month before President Lai Ching-te, who was elected at the beginning of the year, takes office.

China regards Taiwan as a renegade province that should be reunited with the mainland - by military force if necessary. For several years, Beijing has regularly sent fighter planes and warships to the vicinity of the island.

Since the Taiwanese presidential election in mid-January, relations between Beijing and Taipei have been particularly tense: The Chinese government classifies election winner Lai as a "separatist". He is due to take office on May 20.