Taiwan reports increased Chinese military activity near its territory, 153 PLA aircraft, 14 naval ships detected

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) has reported increased Chinese military activity near its territory. Taiwan MND said that as of 6am (local time) on Tuesday, 153 Chinese military aircraft, 14 naval ships and 12 official ships were detected operating around Taiwan.

According to the Taiwan MND statement, 111 of the 153 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s western, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones (ADIZ).

In response to China’s military incursions, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor Beijing’s activity.

In a post on Twitter, Taiwan’s MND said, “As of 6am today (UTC+8), 153 PLA aircraft, 14 PLAN ships and 12 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected. 111 aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s western, southwestern, and eastern ADIZs. We have monitored the situation and responded.”

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

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, Taiwan News reported.

The report states that a gray zone strategy is “an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and reassurance that seeks to achieve one’s security objectives without the direct and substantial use of force.”

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

China began large-scale military exercises around Taiwan on Monday, with attacks on maritime and land targets, The Washington Post reports. China’s action comes just days after Taiwan President Lai Ching-te used a National Day speech to defend the island’s democracy and way of life.

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.”

The Eastern Theater Command, the part of the Chinese military that oversees a region including Taiwan, said on Monday that the “Combined Sword 2024B” exercises would involve a barrage of ships and aircraft “in close proximity from various directions” to Taiwan, reports. stated in .

Taiwan has strongly condemned China’s military exercises ‘Joint Sword-2024B’ 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.

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.

“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. ”