Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) reported that it detected 13 Chinese military aircraft and 10 naval vessels operating around Taiwan between 6 am on Thursday and 6 am on Friday (local time). Among the 13 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 11 crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern, and eastern air defense identification zones (ADIZ).
In response, Taiwan deployed aircraft, naval ships, and coastal-based missile systems to monitor and counter the PLA’s movements. In a post on X, Taiwan’s MND stated, “13 PLA aircraft and 10 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 11 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern, and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.”
This follows a similar incident on Thursday when the MND detected 6 Chinese military aircraft and 11 naval vessels. Of these, 6 PLA aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s southwestern ADIZ.
The MND noted on X, “6 PLA aircraft and 11 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 6 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.”
These incidents are part of an ongoing pattern of Chinese military provocations around Taiwan. In recent months, China has escalated its military activities, including frequent air and naval incursions into Taiwan’s ADIZ and conducting military exercises near the island.
Taiwan has been self-governed since 1949, but China views it as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to achieve reunification. So far this month, Taiwan has tracked PLA aircraft 279 times and Chinese ships 150 times. Since September 2020, China has increasingly employed “gray zone tactics,” defined as efforts that go beyond regular deterrence and assurance, aiming to achieve security objectives without resorting to direct and large-scale use of force.
