36 Chinese military aircraft detected around Taiwan: Taipei

Taiwan’s defence ministry reported on Friday that, over a 24-hour period, 36 Chinese military aircraft were spotted in the area of the self-ruled island, which is a record for this year.

As of Thursday, 2200 GMT on Friday, the Ministry of National Defence reported that it had also seen six navy vessels circling Taiwan in the 24 hours before to that time.

Thirteen of the 36 military aircraft that were found “crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait,” the narrow channel that divides democratic Taiwan from communist China, according to the ministry.

The report on Friday follows Chinese military activities throughout the night. On Thursday, Taiwan’s defence ministry said at 10:30 p.m. that 20 fighter jets, aerial unmanned vehicles, and transport planes had been spotted starting at 7:30 p.m.

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It is also the day after an uptick in activity during the 24-hour period ending at 6:00 am Thursday, when the ministry said Beijing had sent in 32 aircraft.

Beijing claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory, and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under China’s control.

Since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen – who does not recognise China’s claim on Taiwan – Beijing has stepped up military and political pressures on the island.

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Taiwan sees near-daily Chinese warplanes and naval warships around its island – a form of “grey-zone” harassment that military experts say are tactics that stop short of open warfare.