Taiwan’s Defense Ministry issued a statement on Tuesday revealing escalating tensions in the region, as Chinese aircraft and ships were spotted around the island nation’s territory on Tuesday.
As of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today, 11 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and 8 People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships were detected operating around Taiwan’s territory.
According to the statement, seven PLA aircraft crossed the median line, violating Taiwan’s northern and southwestern air defense identification zones (ADIZ). This provocative action underscores the ongoing geopolitical tensions between Taiwan and China, with Taiwan asserting its sovereignty while Beijing continues to assert its claims to the island.
Taiwan’s armed forces (ROCA) are closely monitoring the situation and have responded promptly and appropriately to ensure the safety of Taiwan’s airspace and territorial waters. The presence of PLA military assets so close to Taiwan’s borders has raised concerns about potential escalation and the risk of inadvertent conflict.
The latest incident adds to a series of similar provocations by China in recent months, as Beijing continues to flex its military muscle and assert its dominance in the region. Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China, has long been a contentious issue in Chinese foreign policy, with Beijing regarding the island as a renegade province that must be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary.
As the situation in the Taiwan Strait deteriorates, regional stability is being threatened, and any escalation could pose serious threats not only to Taiwan and China but also to the broader Asia-Pacific region.
Since September 2020, China has increased its use of grey zone tactics by increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships operating around Taiwan.
Grey zone tactics are defined as “an effort, or series of efforts, beyond static-deterrence and reassurance, that attempts to achieve one’s security objectives without the direct and massive use of force.”
The incident comes at a time when tensions between China and Taiwan are at their peak. Despite never ruling Taiwan, China’s ruling Communist Party considers it part of its territory and has threatened to annex it by force if necessary.
