Taiwan Detects 29 Chinese Military Aircraft and 8 Naval Vessels Near Its Territory
Taipei [Taiwan], September 12: Taiwan detected 29 Chinese military aircraft, 8 naval vessels, and 1 official ship operating near its territory from 6 am on Wednesday to 6 am on Thursday. According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND), 20 of the 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 these incursions, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor the activity. Taiwan’s MND stated, “29 PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN vessels, and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. today. 20 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, central, and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded.”
This latest 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 increased the number of military aircraft and naval vessels operating near Taiwan, using gray zone tactics to achieve its security objectives without direct force.
Taiwan has been governed independently since 1949, but China considers it part of its territory and insists on eventual reunification, by force if necessary. Earlier this month, Lin Yu-Chang, Secretary-General of Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), stated that “Taiwan’s sovereignty is inviolable” during an event in San Francisco. Lin emphasized that Taiwanese people have the power to decide their own future and highlighted Taiwan’s global importance due to major events like the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine War.
Lin Yu-Chang, who served as Taiwan’s minister of the interior between January 2023 and May 2024, is currently on a 13-day visit to the US. He visited New York, Washington, DC, and Houston, and discussed Taiwan’s sovereignty and the bipartisan support for Taiwan in the US.
Doubts Revealed
Taiwan -: Taiwan is an island located in East Asia, near China. It has its own government and operates like an independent country, 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 various purposes like defense, surveillance, or attacks.
Naval Vessels -: Naval vessels are ships used by a country’s navy. They can include warships, submarines, and other types of military ships.
Territory -: A territory is an area of land that belongs to a country. In this case, it refers to the area that Taiwan controls.
Ministry of National Defence -: This is a government department in Taiwan responsible for the country’s defense and military activities.
Median Line of the Taiwan Strait -: The Taiwan Strait is a body of water between Taiwan and China. The median line is an imaginary line in the middle of this strait, often used as a boundary.
Air Defence Identification Zone -: This is an area where a country monitors and controls aircraft to protect its security. If an aircraft enters this zone, it must identify itself to avoid being seen as a threat.
Missile Systems -: These are weapons that can launch missiles, which are explosive projectiles used in warfare.
Sovereignty -: Sovereignty means having full control and authority over a territory. It means that Taiwan governs itself without interference from other countries.
Democratic Progressive Party -: This is a political party in Taiwan. Lin Yu-Chang is a member of this party, which supports Taiwan’s independence from China.
