China sends dozens of warplanes near Taiwan after top US envoy pledges to help island with self defense [Video]

• Raymond Greene began his term as the director of the American Institute in Taiwan on Monday. On Wednesday, he promised to “strongly support Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities.”
• The same day, Taiwan detected 66 Chinese warplanes and seven warships nearby across a 24-hour period in an apparent show of force from China.
• The U.S. does not recognize Taiwan as a country, but the American Institute in Taiwan functions as a de facto embassy. Taipei also operates an Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S.

The United States’ new top envoy to Taiwan promised Wednesday that Washington will help the self-ruled island defend itself as China ramps up its military threats.

The weight of the message from Raymond Greene, who assumed his new role as director of the American Institute in Taiwan on Monday, was underscored by the strong show of force from China’s People Liberation Army displayed toward Taiwan on the same day.

“First of all, and …