Chinese Military Activity Around Taiwan
On October 5, Taiwan’s Ministry of Defence reported the detection of Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels near the island. After a three-day pause, 13 aircraft from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and 3 vessels from the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) were observed encircling Taiwan. Eight of these aircraft crossed the median line into Taiwan’s southwestern air defense identification zone (ADIZ).
Earlier, from October 1 to 4, no such activity was detected. However, on October 1, eight PLA aircraft and two PLAN vessels were observed, with four aircraft crossing the median line into the ADIZ. Taiwan has been closely monitoring these activities and responding as necessary.
This recent activity is part of a pattern of increased military presence by China near Taiwan, including regular air and naval incursions and military exercises. Since September 2020, China has been using gray zone tactics, gradually increasing the number of military operations around Taiwan.
Doubts Revealed
Taiwan -: Taiwan is an island located in East Asia, near China. It has its own government and operates like a separate country, but China considers it a part of its territory.
PLA -: PLA stands for the People’s Liberation Army, which is the combined military forces of China, including its army, navy, and air force.
PLAN -: PLAN stands for the People’s Liberation Army Navy, which is the naval warfare branch of China’s military.
ADIZ -: ADIZ stands for Air Defense Identification Zone. It is an area where a country tries to identify and control aircraft for security reasons, even if it is outside their national airspace.
Median line -: The median line is an imaginary line in the Taiwan Strait that separates the airspace and waters between Taiwan and China. Crossing it can be seen as a provocative action.
Gray zone tactics -: Gray zone tactics are actions by a country that are aggressive but not openly warlike. They are used to gain advantage without starting a full-scale conflict.