Taiwan Detects Chinese Military Activity Around the Island
Taiwan's Ministry of Defence (MND) reported detecting seven Chinese military aircraft and five naval vessels operating around Taiwan between 6 am (local time) on Saturday and 6 am (local time) on Sunday. One of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's Southwest Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ).
In response, Taiwan's armed forces monitored the situation and deployed combat patrol aircraft, naval vessels, and coastal missile systems. The MND stated, "7 PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's SW ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly."
This follows a similar incident on Saturday, where nine Chinese military aircraft and five naval vessels were detected operating around Taiwan between 6 am (local time) on Friday and 6 am (local time) on Saturday. Taiwan responded by monitoring the situation and deploying its forces. The MND posted on X, "9 PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly."
These incidents are part of a larger trend of increased Chinese military activity near Taiwan. Since September 2020, China has intensified its use of "gray zone tactics" by operating more military aircraft and naval ships near Taiwan. These tactics are defined as "an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one's security objectives without resorting to direct and sizable use of force."
In May alone, Taiwan has detected Chinese military aircraft 39 times and naval vessels 21 times. This increased activity has raised concerns about China's intentions towards Taiwan and the potential for escalation in the region.