Taipei
Taiwan’s Ministry of Defence reported detecting 36 Chinese aircraft and seven ships near its territory in the 24 hours leading up to 6 a.m. on Friday. Among the aircraft, 34 entered Taiwan’s southwest and eastern Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). Taiwanese forces closely monitored the situation and responded accordingly.
36 #PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around #Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 34 of the aircraft entered Taiwan’s SW and eastern ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly, Taiwan’s MND announced on the X platform Friday morning.
Previously, on Thursday, Taiwan had observed 11 Chinese military aircraft and eight naval vessels around the island nation in the same timeframe until 6 am, as per sources.
The Ministry of Defence of Taiwan reported that seven of the 11 PLA aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait into the northern and southwestern sectors of Taiwan’s ADIZ, with one PLA helicopter tracked in the southeastern ADIZ.
Since September 2020, China has intensified its use of gray zone tactics by increasing military aircraft and naval ship operations near Taiwan. These tactics aim to achieve security objectives without resorting to direct and large-scale force, as defined by sources.
This recent escalation follows a series of similar provocations by China in recent months, involving increased military activities, including regular air and naval intrusions into Taiwan’s ADIZ.
Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China, remains a longstanding issue in China’s foreign policy. China asserts sovereignty over Taiwan, considering it part of its territory, and insists on eventual reunification, even if force is required.
