21 Chinese Military aircrafts, 7 Naval Vessels near Taiwan territory: Ministry of Defence

Taipei: Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) has said that 21 Chinese military aircraft, seven naval vessels, and one official ship were detected operating near Taiwan from 6 am (local time) on Sunday to 6 am (local time) on Monday. According to Taiwan’s MND, 16 of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) aircraft crossed the median.

Taipei: Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) has said that 21 Chinese military aircraft, seven naval vessels, and one official ship were detected operating near Taiwan from 6 am (local time) on Sunday to 6 am (local time) on Monday.

According to Taiwan’s MND, 16 of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s northern, southwestern, and eastern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ).

In response to Chinese incursions, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor PLA activity.

Taking to X, Taiwan’s MND stated, “21 PLA aircraft, 7 PLAN vessels and 1 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 16 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern, and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation.”

This latest Chinese military activity adds to a series of similar provocations by Beijing in recent months. China has intensified its military activities around Taiwan, including regular air and naval incursions into Taiwan’s ADIZ and military exercises near the island.

Since September 2020, China has intensified its use of gray zone tactics by increasing the number of military aircraft and naval vessels operating near Taiwan, according to a Taiwan News report.