Taiwan Monitors Chinese Military Activity Near Its Territory

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) reported on Friday that Chinese military activity was detected near its territory. From 6 am on Thursday to 6 am on Friday, 19 Chinese military aircraft, seven naval vessels, and two official ships were operating around Taiwan.

According to Taiwan’s MND, 15 of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s eastern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). In response, Taiwan deployed aircraft, naval ships, and coastal-based missile systems to monitor the PLA activity.

In a statement on X, Taiwan’s MND said, “19 PLA aircraft, 7 PLAN vessels, and 2 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. today. 15 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.”

This latest incursion is part of a series of similar provocations by China in recent months. China has increased 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, which are efforts to achieve security objectives without direct and sizable use of force. On September 3, Taiwan’s MND reported that China launched a satellite over Taiwan, with its flight path passing over the southwestern ADIZ. Taiwan’s MND stated that the satellite posed “no threat” and that Taiwan Armed Forces monitored the whole process and are ready to respond if necessary.