China sharply reacted to US military aid for Taiwan.

Chinese planes and ships conducted combat patrols near Taiwan. This was Beijing's response to the sale of a large batch of weapons by the US to Taipei.

According to Taiwan's Ministry of Defense, Chinese military aircraft and ships carried out another "combat patrol" near the island after Beijing threatened to take countermeasures in response to a US arms sale package worth $2 billion, reports RBC-Ukraine citing Reuters.

Starting from Sunday morning, Taiwanese military detected 19 Chinese military aircraft, including Su-30 fighters, conducting "joint combat readiness patrols" around Taiwan together with Chinese military ships.

Chinese planes flew in the airspace in the north, center, southwest, and east of the island. Taiwanese military were dispatched to observe them.

China conducts such patrols around the island several times a month. However, this happened for the first Time after Beijing conducted a new round of large-scale military exercises near the island this month.

On Friday, October 25, the US approved a $2 billion arms package for Taiwan. It included the dispatch of an advanced air defense system Nasams, which was tested in Ukraine.

The government of Taiwan welcomed the 17th military aid package during Joe Biden's administration.

"In the face of threats from China, Taiwan is obliged to defend its homeland and will continue to demonstrate its determination to defend itself," Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday, responding to the arms sale.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the latest US arms sale and sent "solemn notes" to Washington.