Taiwan tracks 22 Chinese military aircraft amid rising tension

The Ministry of National Defense said Taiwan detected 22 Chinese military aircraft circling around the island nation since Saturday morning.

The aircraft were tracked off the southeast coast of mainland China, and were of various types (including SU-30, KJ-500, UAVs, etc.)

“A total of 22 PLA aircraft of various types (including SU-30, KJ-500, UAVs etc.) were detected off the southeast coast of Mainland China since 0930 hours today. “12 of which crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait and entered the northern and central parts of Taiwan's ADIZ,” Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense wrote in a post on X.

A total of 22 PLA aircraft of various types (including SU-30, KJ-500, UAVs, etc.) were detected off the southeast coast of Mainland China since 930 am today. 12 of which crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait and entered the northern and central parts of Taiwan's ADIZ.

– Ministry of National Defense, ROC 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) 27 April 2024

Amid rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait, the island nation's Ministry of National Defense has repeatedly detected Chinese military aircraft and ships operating near Taiwan.

The provocative maneuvers by Chinese military assets come amid rising tensions between Taiwan and China, with Beijing asserting its territorial claims to the self-ruled island.

Taiwan has long been a source of dispute between China and the international community, with Beijing considering the island an integral part of its territory, while Taiwan maintains its sovereignty.

So far in April, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense has detected Chinese military aircraft 207 times and naval ships 144 times. Since September 2020, China has intensified the use of “gray zone tactics” by deploying military aircraft and naval ships along the median line and inside Taiwan's ADIZ, Taiwan News reported.