Taiwan detects 9 Chinese PLA aircraft, naval vessels around island amid rising tensions

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) said on Sunday that it detected nine sorties by Chinese PLA aircraft and nine PLAN vessels operating around the island as of 6 am local time.

According to the MND, three of the nine aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). “We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly,” the ministry said in a post on X.

The development follows heightened Chinese military activity a day earlier. On Saturday, Taiwan detected 26 sorties of PLA aircraft, along with eight naval vessels and an official ship operating near its territorial waters.

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Of the 26 aircraft, seven crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, central and southwestern ADIZ, the MND said, adding that it had closely monitored the situation and taken appropriate responses.

Taiwan also reported the intrusion of a Chinese army reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle into its southwestern ADIZ on Saturday. The UAV entered airspace near Dongsha, also known as the Pratas Islands, and departed after Taiwan issued radio warnings.

“At 5.41 am (UTC+8), a PLA reconnaissance UAV was detected entering Taiwan’s southwestern ADIZ near Dongsha. After radio warnings, the UAV left the area,” the MND said in a separate post on X.

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Responding to the developments, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said he would continue to safeguard Taiwan and would not allow interference from China. As commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Lai pledged to protect the country and ensure the safety of its citizens and their property.