Chinese Military Activity Near Taiwan

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) has reported significant Chinese military activity around the nation. From 6 am on Friday to 6 am on Saturday, 30 Chinese military aircraft and nine naval vessels were detected near Taiwan.

Details of the Incursion

Of the total aircraft, 23 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft entered Taiwan’s southwestern and southeastern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). The aircraft came as close as 72 kilometers from Eluanbi in the south and 77 kilometers from Keelung in the north.

Taiwan’s Response

In response, Taiwan sent combat patrol aircraft and naval vessels and deployed land-based air defense missile systems to monitor the activity. Taiwan’s MND stated, ’30 PLA aircraft and 9 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. today. 23 aircraft entered Taiwan’s southwestern and southeastern ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.’

Ongoing Tensions

So far in July, Taiwan’s MND has tracked Chinese military aircraft 131 times and naval vessels 35 times. Since September 2020, China has intensified its ‘gray zone tactics’ by sending more military aircraft and naval ships near Taiwan. These tactics aim to achieve security objectives without direct and sizable use of force.

This latest incident adds to 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. Taiwan has been governed independently of China since 1949, but China considers Taiwan part of its territory and insists on eventual reunification, by force if necessary.