Taiwan detects 22 Chinese military aircraft, five naval ships near its territory

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) said 22 Chinese military aircraft and five naval ships were detected hovering around Taiwan as of 6 a.m. (local time) on Wednesday.

Of the 22 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 13 crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s northern and southwestern Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

In response to China’s actions, Taiwan dispatched aircraft and naval vessels and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor PLA activity.

In a post on Twitter, Taiwan’s MND said, “22 PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6am today (UTC+8). 13 aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.”

China’s latest military incursions around Taiwan are seen as part of a broader pattern of provocations that have intensified in recent months.

Taiwan has been independently governed since 1949. However, China considers Taiwan part of its territory and insists on eventual reunification, by force if necessary.

On Monday, Taiwan strongly condemned China’s ‘Joint Sword-2024B’ military exercises around its territory and accused Beijing of challenging the rules-based international order and seriously undermining regional peace and stability.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) notes that China launched its so-called Combined Sword-2024B military exercises around Taiwan on October 14, which once again challenges the rules-based international order and seriously threatens regional peace and stability. weakens form. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said, MOFA strongly condemns China and urges it to step back and immediately stop its military provocations.

In his/her National Day address, President Lai Ching-te expressed goodwill towards China and called on it to act responsibly and work with Taiwan to maintain the existing situation of peace, stability and prosperity. However, China is “determined to intimidate the people of Taiwan” through military exercises and is attempting to endanger Taiwan’s democracy and unilaterally disrupt the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the entire region.

“MOFA strongly condemns China and urges it not to use false pretenses to justify dissent and conflict, nor to become a trouble-maker that undermines regional peace and stability,” it said. “

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry also called on other countries to recognize China’s “authoritarian and expansionist nature” and take concrete action to support democratic Taiwan at this critical moment. It also urged them to unite to defend the values ​​of freedom and democracy and safeguard the rules-based international order as well as the freedom, openness and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region.

The statement from Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry came after China launched large-scale military exercises around Taiwan on Monday, with strikes against maritime and land targets, The Washington Post reported.

Command spokesman Li Xi said the China-initiated exercises would “test the joint operational capabilities” of the Chinese military’s Eastern Theater Command and serve as “a stern warning to the separatist acts of ‘Taiwan independence’ forces.”