Taiwan’s defense ministry said Sunday that 12 Chinese planes and five ships were spotted near the island, including five that crossed the Taiwan Strait.

Beijing, which considers the region a rebel province, has been conducting military exercises in the area. Visit by the Speaker of the US House of RepresentativesNancy Pelosi, early August.

She wasn’t the only one. Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb arrived in Taipei on Sunday, becoming the last American official to visit Taipei to challenge what China sees as a violation of its sovereignty. Last week, a second delegation American congressmen visited the island

The Republican, who said on Twitter he would also visit South Korea, is expected to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen on Monday morning (22), Taiwan’s government said. Calling the visit to the countries an “economic development trip,” Holcomb highlighted the fact that he is the first US governor to travel to Taiwan since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in late 2019.

“Our delegation will meet with officials, business leaders and academic institutions throughout the week to further strengthen Indiana’s economic, academic and cultural ties with Taiwan and South Korea,” he wrote. There was no immediate response from China on the arrival of the Republican Party.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry said Holcomb was expected to meet with the delegation Taiwanese semiconductor companies. The island is home to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., the world’s largest chip maker. (TSMC), is building a $12 billion plant in the US state of Arizona.

China says Taiwan is the most important and sensitive issue in its relations with Washington and considers everything related to the island a domestic issue. Meanwhile, Taipei says China has no right to claim the territory and that only its 23 million people can decide their future.