Chinese Military Activity Around Taiwan
From 6 am on Friday to 6 am on Saturday, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) detected 30 Chinese military aircraft, 7 naval vessels, and 4 official ships operating around Taiwan.
Aircraft Cross Median Line
According to Taiwan’s MND, 20 of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s central, southwestern, and eastern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). In response, Taiwan sent aircraft, naval ships, and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor PLA activity.
Increased Military Activity
Throughout August, Taiwan has detected Chinese military aircraft 535 times and ships 289 times. Since September 2020, China has increased its use of gray zone tactics, which are efforts to achieve security objectives without direct force.
Regional Tensions
China’s increased military activities around Taiwan include regular air and naval incursions into Taiwan’s ADIZ and military exercises near the island. Taiwan has been governed independently since 1949, but China considers it part of its territory.
International Reactions
Earlier this week, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) criticized China for violating other countries’ sovereignty and disrupting regional peace. A Chinese reconnaissance plane entered Japanese airspace, raising regional tensions. China’s military expansion poses a major threat to the Indo-Pacific region’s security, including Taiwan and Japan.
Call for Peace
Taiwan’s MOFA urged China to cease actions that undermine peace and escalate tensions. Taiwan will bolster its self-defence capabilities and cooperate with like-minded nations to deter authoritarianism.
Doubts Revealed
Taiwan -: Taiwan is an island near China. It has its own government and is considered a separate country by many, but China claims it as part of its territory.
Chinese Military -: The Chinese Military is the armed forces of China. They have soldiers, aircraft, ships, and other equipment to protect and defend their country.
Aircraft -: Aircraft are vehicles that can fly, like airplanes and helicopters. In this context, they are used by the military for defense and surveillance.
Naval Vessels -: Naval vessels are ships used by the navy, which is the part of the military that operates at sea. They can include warships, submarines, and other types of boats.
Ministry of National Defence -: The Ministry of National Defence is a part of the government responsible for the country’s defense and military activities.
Median Line of the Taiwan Strait -: The median line is an imaginary line in the water that separates Taiwan and China. Crossing it can be seen as a sign of aggression.
Air Defence Identification Zone -: This is an area in the sky where a country monitors and controls aircraft to protect its airspace from potential threats.
Missile Systems -: Missile systems are weapons that can launch missiles, which are explosive projectiles used to destroy targets at a distance.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs -: This is a part of the government that handles relationships with other countries and international issues.
Regional Tensions -: Regional tensions refer to conflicts or disagreements between countries in a specific area, which can lead to stress and potential conflicts.
