Taiwan Monitors Six Chinese Naval Ships Near Its Waters
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) reported that six Chinese naval vessels were detected around Taiwan between 6 am on Monday and 6 am on Tuesday. In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor the activity of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). No PLA aircraft were tracked in Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) during this period.
This latest activity is part of a series of similar provocations by China in recent months. China has increased its military activities near Taiwan, including regular air and naval incursions into Taiwan’s ADIZ and military exercises near the island. So far this month, Taiwan has tracked 321 Chinese military aircraft and 186 ships.
Since September 2020, China has employed gray zone tactics, which involve increasing military presence without direct and sizable use of force. Taiwan has been governed independently since 1949, but China considers Taiwan part of its territory and insists on eventual reunification, by force if necessary.
Earlier in July, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te accused China of misinterpreting a United Nations resolution to justify its military activities against Taiwan and drawing an inappropriate linkage to its ‘One China’ principle. Beijing claims that the UN resolution confirmed its one-China principle, implying that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China.
Doubts Revealed
Taiwan -: Taiwan is an island near China. It has its own government and runs itself, but China says it belongs to them.
Chinese Naval Ships -: These are big boats used by China’s military. They can carry soldiers, weapons, and other important things.
Ministry of National Defence -: This is a part of Taiwan’s government that takes care of the country’s safety and military.
Naval Vessels -: These are ships used by the navy, which is the part of the military that works on the sea.
Aircraft -: These are flying vehicles like airplanes and helicopters used by the military.
Coastal Missile Systems -: These are weapons placed near the sea that can shoot missiles to protect the country.
Air Defense Zone -: This is an area in the sky where a country watches for any flying objects to keep safe.
Gray Zone Tactics -: These are actions that are not quite war but still show power, like moving military ships close to another country.
Self-governed -: This means Taiwan runs its own government and makes its own rules, separate from China.
1949 -: This is the year when Taiwan started to govern itself after a big change in China.
