Taiwan Monitors 41 Chinese Military Aircraft and 6 Naval Vessels Near Its Borders
Taipei [Taiwan], September 27: The Ministry of National Defence (MND) of Taiwan reported that it detected 41 Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 am on Thursday and 6 am on Friday.
According to the MND, 32 of the 41 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line into Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern, and eastern air defense identification zones (ADIZ). In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor the PLA activity.
On Thursday, China sent 43 military aircraft and eight naval vessels towards Taiwan. Of these, 34 aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line into the southwestern and eastern ADIZ. These included fighter jets, drones, and helicopters.
This latest activity is part of a series of increased military actions by China near Taiwan. So far this month, Taiwan has tracked 407 Chinese military aircraft and 206 ships. Since September 2020, China has been using gray zone tactics, which involve increasing military presence without direct conflict.
Taiwan has been governed independently since 1949, but China considers it part of its territory and insists on eventual reunification, by force if necessary. In July, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te accused China of misinterpreting a United Nations resolution to justify its military activities against Taiwan.
Doubts Revealed
Taiwan -: Taiwan is an island near China. It has its own government and operates like a separate country, but China says it is part of China.
Chinese Military Aircraft -: These are airplanes used by China’s army. They can be used for defense or attacks.
Naval Vessels -: These are ships used by the navy, which is the part of the military that operates at sea.
Ministry of National Defence -: This is a part of Taiwan’s government that takes care of the country’s safety and defense.
Taiwan Strait median line -: This is an imaginary line in the water between Taiwan and China. It helps to keep peace by marking where each side’s military should stay.
Air defense zones -: These are areas in the sky where a country watches for and protects against enemy aircraft.
Missile systems -: These are weapons that can be launched to hit targets far away, often used for defense.
Independently governed -: This means Taiwan has its own government and makes its own rules, separate from China.
1949 -: This is the year when Taiwan started to have its own government, separate from China.
