China sends warships and fighter jets near Taiwan during US Beijing visit

Two Chinese SU-30 fighter jets take off from an unspecified location to fly a patrol over the South China Sea (Jin Danhua/Xinhua/AP)

China’s People’s Liberation Army has sent 13 aircraft and six vessels into airspace and waters around Taiwan.

Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said it is monitoring the situation, which coincides with US treasury secretary Janet Yellen’s visit to Beijing, with land-based missile systems prepared to respond.