Taiwan spotted 20 Chinese military aircraft and 10 naval ships near its territory

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) has said that 20 Chinese military aircraft and 10 naval ships were detected operating around Taiwan from 6 am Wednesday (local time) to 6 am Thursday (local time).

According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND), 15 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s northern, southwestern, and eastern air defense identification zones (ADIZ).

In a post on X, the Taiwan MND said, “As of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today, 20 PLA ​​aircraft and 10 PLAN ships were detected around Taiwan. 15 aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, central, and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and taken actions accordingly.”

This latest military activity by China adds to a series of similar provocative actions by Beijing in recent months. China has increased its military activities near 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.

As Taiwan News reports, gray zone tactics are considered “an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and reassurance that seeks to achieve one’s security objectives without the direct and large-scale use of force.”

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

Earlier in July, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te accused the Chinese government of misinterpreting a UN resolution to justify its military activities against Taiwan, reports Central News Agency (CNA).

he/she condemned China for misinterpreting UN Resolution 2758, including its improper association with the “One China” principle.

Addressing the annual summit of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) in Taipei, Lai said the move aims not only to “build a legal basis for China’s military aggression against Taiwan” but also to hamper Taiwan’s efforts to participate in international organisations.

According to the CNA report, China claims that the UN resolution reaffirms its one-China principle, which means there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China. Following Lai Ching-te’s comments, the IPAC adopted a “model resolution”.

According to the proposal, members will try to address allegations of China “distorting” the UN resolution by passing resolutions in their respective parliaments.

In its model resolution, the IPAC expressed concern over “continued efforts” by Chinese authorities to distort the meaning of a resolution passed by the UN General Assembly in 1971, which states that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is “the sole legitimate representative of China at the United Nations”, reports Central News Agency (CNA).