Taiwan Monitors Chinese Military Activity Near Its Borders
On October 8, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence reported detecting 12 aircraft and 7 vessels from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and Navy (PLAN) near Taiwan. Eight of these aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait into Taiwan’s Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). In response, Taiwan deployed its own aircraft and naval vessels and activated coastal missile systems to monitor the situation.
This activity follows a three-day period without Chinese military presence in the area. Throughout October, China has sent 56 military aircraft and 22 naval vessels around Taiwan. Since September 2020, China has increased its military presence near Taiwan, using gray zone tactics, which involve actions that stop short of open warfare to achieve security objectives.
The median line of the Taiwan Strait has traditionally acted as a boundary between China and Taiwan. However, since a visit by former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in August 2022, China has frequently crossed this line with military aircraft and ships. Taiwan, which separated from China in 1949, is seen by Beijing as part of its territory, despite Taiwan’s self-governance and advanced economy.
Doubts Revealed
Taiwan -: Taiwan is an island located in East Asia, near China. It has its own government and operates independently, but China claims it as part of its territory.
Chinese military aircraft -: These are airplanes used by China’s military forces. They can be used for defense, attack, or surveillance purposes.
Naval vessels -: These are ships used by the military, specifically the navy, for operations at sea. They can include warships, submarines, and other types of boats.
Air Defence Identification Zone -: This is an area in the sky where a country monitors and identifies aircraft to ensure they are not a threat. It’s like a security zone in the air.
Gray zone tactics -: These are strategies used by countries to achieve their goals without starting a war. They involve actions that are aggressive but not openly hostile, like military exercises near another country’s borders.
Median line of the Taiwan Strait -: This is an imaginary line in the water between Taiwan and China. It has been used as a boundary to keep peace between the two sides.
Self-governing since 1949 -: This means that since 1949, Taiwan has been managing its own government and affairs independently from China.
