Today, the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense reported that 25 Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and 3 People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels were detected in the vicinity of Taiwan by 6 a.m. (UTC+8). In response, the R.O.C. Armed Forces monitored the situation and deployed combat air patrol (CAP) aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile defense systems.
The Chinese aircraft entered Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), but did not cross the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which has served as an unofficial barrier between the two sides. The ADIZ is a broader area that Taiwan monitors to give it more time to respond to any threats.
In recent months, China has increased its military activities near Taiwan in response to the visit of then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the island last August. Beijing has also flown over the median line on an almost daily basis since then. In response, Taiwan has upgraded its fleet of F-16 fighter jets and ordered 66 more of the planes from the U.S., while also buying other weaponry and extending its mandatory term of military service for all males from four months to one year.
The heightened tensions between China and Taiwan have also been reflected in U.S.-China relations. Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelled a visit to Beijing after the U.S. shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the east coast, drawing protests from China. Wednesday’s incursions were relatively modest by recent standards; during China’s National Day weekend in 2021, Beijing dispatched 149 military aircraft southwest of Taiwan in strike group formations.
Taiwan has repeatedly offered talks with China regarding the status of the island, but has also said it will defend itself if attacked, and that only the Taiwanese people can decide their future. The current situation serves as a reminder of the need for both sides to find a peaceful resolution to their differences.