Taiwan has reported heavy military activity and has spotted 22 Chinese aircraft and seven Chinese naval ships around its territory.
Aircraft of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) and ships of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) have been spotted in and around Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ), the island nation's Ministry of Defense (MND) said in a statement.
Of these, 17 aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern, and eastern ADIZ, prompting a strategic response from Taiwan's defense forces.
“As of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today, 22 PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN ships have been observed around Taiwan. 17 aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern, and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and taken actions accordingly,” Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said in a post on X.
Earlier on Thursday, Taiwan reported increased Chinese military activity around the Taiwan Strait, detecting the presence of a large number of Chinese aircraft and ships around its territory.
The MND detected 20 PLA aircraft and 6 PLA ships in the vicinity of Taiwan, indicating a significant increase in military activity.
Ten of the captured aircraft had crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait, which traditionally serves as the unofficial border separating the two sides.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait, as China has increased its military presence in the region and conducted frequent exercises. The maneuvers are seen as part of Beijing's ongoing pressure campaign against Taiwan, which China considers a renegade province.
In recent months, there has been an increase in military contacts between both Taiwan and China, including regular incursions into Taiwan's ADIZ and increased naval patrols in the Taiwan Strait. These activities are seen as attempts by China to assert its claims over Taiwan and challenge Taiwan's sovereignty.
China's increasing military activities have raised concerns among international observers and Taiwan's partners.
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