Taiwan detects 24 Chinese aircraft, 6 vessels near its territory

The Ministry of National Defence (MND) on Wednesday detected 24 aircraft from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and six vessels from the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) operating around Taiwan until 6 a.m. (UTC+8).

According to the MND, 21 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, southwestern, and eastern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ).

Sharing a post on X, MND wrote, “24 PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today.”

It added, “21 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, southwestern and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.”

On Tuesday, the MND detected 22 PLA aircraft of various types, including J-16, KJ-500, and others. Out of 22 PLA aircraft, 19 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the northern, central, southwestern and eastern ADIZ in conducting air-sea joint training along with other PLAN vessels.

Earlier on January 13, the Ministry detected six aircraft from the PLA and six naval vessels from the PLAN as of 6:00 am (UTC+8), with four of the aircraft crossing the median line and entering Taiwan’s northern and southwestern ADIZ.

In recent weeks, China has been visibly boosting its ability to invade Taiwanese beaches with innovative new naval equipment. This includes the formal launching of an enormous landing helicopter assault (LHA) vessel, the likes of which no other navy in the world possesses, and mass production of floating bridge docks to assist the unloading of ships during beach landings. Both type of equipment are strong indications that China is serious about one day invading Taiwan.

The Taiwan-China issue is a complex and longstanding geopolitical conflict centred on Taiwan’s sovereignty. Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), operates its own government, military, and economy, functioning as a de facto independent state.

However, China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and insists on the “One China” policy, which asserts that there is only one China, with Beijing as its capital.

This has fuelled decades of tension, especially since the Chinese Civil War (1945-1949), when the ROC government retreated to Taiwan after the Communist Party, led by Mao Zedong, took control of mainland China.

Beijing has consistently expressed its goal of reunification with Taiwan, using diplomatic, economic, and military pressure to isolate Taiwan internationally. Meanwhile, Taiwan, supported by a significant portion of its population, continues to maintain its independence.