Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) reported a rise in Chinese military presence on Friday, noting the detection of 12 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, five People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels, and one official ship operating near Taiwan. Of these, nine aircraft crossed the median line into Taiwan’s northern, central, and southwestern Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). Taiwan’s MND confirmed it has been closely monitoring the situation and taking responsive actions.
On Thursday, Taiwan’s MND also detected 11 PLA aircraft and five PLAN vessels near the island, with seven aircraft crossing the median line into Taiwan’s ADIZ.
China’s military activity around Taiwan has intensified since September 2020, using “grey zone” tactics to advance its security goals. In response, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te recently held a national security conference, reassuring the public of the government’s commitment to defending Taiwan’s democracy and security. This meeting followed the PLA’s large-scale “Joint Sword-2024B” military drill in the Taiwan Strait, which China described as a stern message to Taiwan independence advocates.
In line with Taiwan’s modernization efforts, President Lai attended a keel-laying ceremony on November 4 for a new light frigate prototype for the Republic of China Navy (ROCN) at the Kaohsiung shipyard.