Taiwan spots 16 Chinese planes near island during talks with Xi Jinping in Beijing

Taiwan's Defense Ministry said on Monday it had spotted 16 Chinese military aircraft near the island, as Chinese President Xi Jinping met with a Taiwanese opposition leader in Beijing.

The ministry noted this yesterday, when Xi met with the chairwoman of Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), Cheng Li-wun, Reuters reports.

Xi told the opposition leader in Beijing that China would absolutely not tolerate the independence of Taiwan, which it considers its territory.

Cheng presented her visit as a reconciliation mission to reduce tensions and told Xi that she looked forward to the KMT and Communist Party advancing the institutionalization of peace across the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan's Defense Ministry said 16 Chinese warplanes flew near the island from mid-morning to mid-afternoon on Friday.

Vice Minister of the Taiwan Mainland Affairs Council Shen Yu-chung told reporters in Taipei today that using military force against Taiwan as a means of pressuring political negotiations has always been China's main tactic.

"So, on the one hand, we see them sending messages of peace, while on the other hand, they continue to use military force to pressure Taiwan relentlessly," he added.

KMT Vice Chairman Chang Chung-kung said the key to promoting peace lies in offering the people of Taiwan a choice between peace and reconciliation or war.

"Engaging with China and promoting cross-strait peace brings peace with dignity, not bowing one's head for a handshake as Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said," Chang added, according to a KMT statement.

Lai's office said last night that the Xi-Cheng meeting "aimed at highlighting that Taiwan is part of China and advancing the annexation of Taiwan."

"The future of Taiwan can only be decided by the Taiwanese people themselves," Lai's spokeswoman said.