Taiwan detects five Chinese military aircraft and seven naval ships near its territory

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) said on Sunday that five Chinese military aircraft and seven naval ships were circling around Taiwan from 6 am Saturday (local time) to 6 am Sunday (local time).

According to Taiwan MND, five aircraft of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwest and southeast air defense identification zones (ADIZ). In response to China’s action, Taiwan’s armed forces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.

In a post on X, Taiwan MND said, “As of 6 AM (UTC+8) today, 5 #PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN ships were detected around #Taiwan. 5 aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern, central, SW and SE ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.”

This latest incident is among a series of similar provocations by China in recent months. China has increased its military activities around Taiwan, including regular aerial and naval incursions into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

Taiwan has long been a contentious issue in Chinese foreign policy. China continues to claim sovereignty over Taiwan and considers it part of its territory and insists on its reunification, if necessary by force.

On Saturday, Taiwan’s MND said that 23 Chinese military aircraft and five naval ships were circling around Taiwan from 6 am Friday (local time) to 6 am Saturday (local time).

According to Taiwan’s MND, 20 of these Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwest, and eastern air defense identification zones (ADIZ).

“As of 6 AM (UTC+8) today, 23 #PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN ships have been detected around #Taiwan. 20 of these aircraft have entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern, and eastern ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and taken action accordingly,” Taiwan’s MND posted on X.

On June 25, the Taiwan Coast Guard (CGA) monitored four China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels in restricted waters off the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen Islands, reports the Central News Agency (CNA).

The intrusion was reported to the CGA’s Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu branch just after 5 a.m. (local time). The CGA’s Kinmen-Matsu-Penghu branch said it sent three patrol boats to track the Chinese vessels and collect evidence until they left the area at 8 a.m. (local time).

The branch said four Chinese boats numbered 14609, 14603, 14513 and 14605 entered the restricted zone from the east of Beiding Island and south of Fuxing Island respectively and flew for about two hours, CNA reported.

Taiwan’s CGA stressed that the Chinese Coast Guard’s actions do not maintain relations between Kinmen and Xiamen, nor do they promote regional stability. However, the China Coast Guard (CCG) said its actions were lawful as it had increased patrols in the waters around Kinmen in June.