Chinese Military Aircraft and Vessels Spotted Near Taiwan

On July 11, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) reported detecting 66 Chinese military aircraft and vessels around the island. These were heading to a military exercise in the Western Pacific.

Details of the Detection

The MND stated that 56 of the aircraft crossed the sensitive median line in the Taiwan Strait, a narrow waterway separating Taiwan from China. The aircraft were moving towards the Western Pacific to join a joint air and sea military exercise with the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong.

The ministry released an illustration showing some aircraft came within 33 nautical miles of Taiwan’s southern tip. On July 10, 36 Chinese military aircraft had also crossed the median line for a similar exercise.

Previous Incidents

In May, Beijing sent 62 military aircraft and 27 naval vessels around Taiwan following the inauguration of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te. Taiwan’s Defence Minister Wellington Koo assured that the MND had a ‘full grasp’ of the Shandong’s movements.

Regional Reactions

The Philippines expressed concern over China’s deployment of a ‘carrier strike group’ in the Philippine Sea. The Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong, along with other vessels, was spotted 323 miles off Miyako Island. The Armed Forces of the Philippines emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region.

On July 9, Japan’s Defence Ministry announced that its Air Self-Defence Force fighters responded to a Chinese unmanned reconnaissance and attack aircraft entering Japan’s air defence identification zone over the East China Sea. This was the sixth such incident this year.