Taiwan reports Chinese military activity near its territory, tracks 19 PLA aircraft, seven naval ships

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) said on Friday that Chinese military activity had been detected near its territory.

It said 19 Chinese military aircraft, seven naval ships and two official vessels were found operating around Taiwan from 6 am (local time) on Thursday to 6 am (local time) on Friday.

According to Taiwan’s MND, 15 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s eastern air defense identification zone.

In response to the Chinese incursions, Taiwan deployed aircraft, naval ships and coastal-based missile systems to monitor PLA activity.

Taiwan’s MND told X, “As of 6 a.m. today (UTC+8), 19 PLA aircraft, 7 PLAN ships, and 2 official ships have been detected around Taiwan. 15 of these aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and taken action accordingly.”

This latest incursion adds to a series of similar provocative moves by China in recent months. China has increased its military activities around Taiwan, including regular air and naval incursions into Taiwan’s ADIZ and military exercises near the island.

According to a Taiwan News report, since September 2020, China has intensified its use of grey zone tactics by increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships operating near Taiwan.

The report states that grey zone strategies are considered “an effort, or series of efforts, beyond static deterrence and reassurance, that attempts to achieve its security objectives without the use of direct and large-scale force.”

On September 3, Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense (MND) alleged that China launched a satellite over Taiwan whose flight path passed through the island nation’s southwestern Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

Taiwan’s MND said the satellite launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) posed “no threat” to the country, adding that the Taiwan Armed Forces monitored the entire process and were prepared to respond if necessary.

In a post shared on X, Taiwan’s MND said, “At 09:20 AM (UTC+8), #PLA launched a satellite from #XSLC whose flight path passed through our southwestern ADIZ. There is no threat to us, the flight path was flying towards the western Pacific Ocean. #ROCArmedForces monitored the entire process and are ready to respond if needed.”