Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) reported that 11 Chinese aircraft, 6 naval vessels, and 3 official ships were detected operating near the island by 6 a.m. (UTC+8) on Sunday.
Among these, five Chinese aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the central, southwestern, and southeastern regions.
MND shared the update on X, stating, “11 PLA aircraft, 6 PLAN vessels and 3 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 5 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s central, southwestern and southeastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.”
Saturday’s Detection Report
On Saturday, Taiwan’s MND also detected 17 Chinese military aircraft, 8 naval vessels, and 3 official ships in the area. The MND reported, “17 PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN vessels and 3 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 15 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and southeastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded.”
China’s Growing Military Strength
Recently, China has been enhancing its military capabilities, particularly focusing on the potential invasion of Taiwan. The country has launched a large landing helicopter assault (LHA) vessel, a unique asset not possessed by any other navy. Furthermore, China has begun mass-producing floating bridge docks, which will assist in unloading ships during beach landings.
These advancements indicate that China is preparing for a possible future invasion of Taiwan.
The Taiwan-China Conflict
The Taiwan-China issue remains complex and long-standing. Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), functions independently with its own government, military, and economy. However, China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and follows the “One China” policy, asserting that Beijing is the sole capital.
The conflict traces back to the Chinese Civil War (1945-1949), when the ROC government retreated to Taiwan after the Communist Party, led by Mao Zedong, took control of mainland China.
Pressure from Beijing
Beijing has continuously pushed for Taiwan’s reunification, using diplomatic, economic, and military pressure to isolate Taiwan globally. However, Taiwan remains determined to maintain its independence, with a large portion of the population supporting this stance.