A total of 25 Chinese warplanes and three warships operating off the Taiwanese coast were tracked.
Taiwan’s defense ministry has observed 19 Chinese Air Force fighter jets entering the island’s air defense zone in the past 24 hours, part of what Taipei calls regular harassment by Beijing.
Taiwan’s defense ministry said on Wednesday that 19 Chinese J-10 fighters had flown to the southwestern corner of the island’s air defense identification zone, or ADIZ, though they remained closer to China’s coast than Taiwan’s, according to a map released by Taiwan. the ministry has released from the air force. raid.
Taiwan’s military monitored the situation and ordered the air force to send fighter jets prepared to send ships and activated coastal missile defense systems in response, the ministry said.
Six other Chinese Air Force aircraft and three Chinese naval vessels were also detected near Taiwan on Wednesday, but they failed to enter Taiwan’s ADIZ.
Taiwan — which China considers its own territory and has promised to return to Beijing’s control — has complained for years about China’s military activity near the island.
25 PLA aircraft and 3 PLAN ships around Taiwan were detected today at 6 am (UTC+8). ROC forces have been monitoring the situation and have ordered CAP aircraft, naval vessels and land-based missile systems to respond to these activities. pic.twitter.com/XsvnjS01Me
— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, ROC 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) March 1, 2023
The Chinese plane entered the ADIZ on Wednesday but failed to cross the more sensitive centerline of the Taiwan Strait, which previously 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.
The Chinese Air Force has also flown over the centerline almost daily since war games were held near Taiwan last August to protest the visit to the island by then Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.
Taiwan has responded to additional pressure from China by upgrading its fleet of F-16 fighter jets and ordering an additional 66 aircraft from the US, while purchasing a range of other weapons and extending the mandatory term of service for all men from four months to a year .
Relations between Beijing and Washington, Taiwan’s main ally and source of defensive weapons, have also spiraled in recent times over China’s actions toward the island, trade and technology issues, and simmering tensions in the South. China Sea.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled a visit to Beijing last month after the US shot down an alleged Chinese spy balloon off the US east coast, sparking angry protests from China.
Wednesday’s raids were also relatively modest by recent standards. During the weekend of the 2021 Chinese National Day, Beijing sent 149 military aircraft in strike formations to southwestern Taiwan
Democratically elected Taiwan has repeatedly offered talks with China over the island’s status, but has also said it will defend itself if attacked, and that only the Taiwanese people can decide their future.
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