Taiwan has detected 6 Chinese aircraft, 7 naval ships active near its airspace, waters

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) said it detected six Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels operating near Taiwan’s airspace from 6 a.m. Thursday (local time) to 6 a.m. Friday (local time). have put.

According to Taiwan’s MND, four of the seven Chinese military aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s southwestern and eastern air defense identification zone (ADIZ). In response to Chinese activity, Taiwanese armed forces monitored the situation and deployed aircraft, naval ships, and coastal missile systems.

In a post on Twitter, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) said, “6 PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. today (UTC+8). 4 aircraft crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s southwestern ADIZ. The ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, naval ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

The MND has issued daily reports on Chinese military activities for the past few years, including identifying Chinese aircraft, drones and balloons that have been detected crossing the Taiwan Strait midline and approaching Taiwan.

The central news agency (CNA) reported that the midline of the Taiwan Strait served as a silent border between China and Taiwan for decades. However, since former United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August 2022, the Chinese military has more independently dispatched aircraft, warships and drones.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Thursday that it tracked 23 Chinese military aircraft and five naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. Wednesday and 6 a.m. Thursday, Taiwan News reported.

In a statement posted on Twitter, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said, “23 PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. today (UTC+8). 8 aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s southwestern and eastern ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.”

Taiwan News reported on Thursday that so far in May, Taiwan has detected Chinese military aircraft 98 times and naval ships 41 times. Since September 2020, China has intensified its use of gray zone tactics by increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships operating around Taiwan.

Gray zone strategy is defined as “a series of efforts or efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and reassurance that attempt to achieve one’s security objectives without the direct and substantial use of force.”