Taiwan’s Defence Ministry tracks 9 Chinese military aircraft, 5 naval ships around nation

In another instance of heightened tension in the Taiwan Strait, the Taiwan Ministry of National Defence (MND) has reported the tracking of nine Chinese military aircraft and five naval ships encircling Taiwan from 6 am on Sunday, March 17, to the same time on Monday, March 18. Taiwan News has brought this concerning development to light.

According to Taiwan News, among the nine People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, one Chinese drone breached the Taiwan Strait median line, venturing into the southwest corner of Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ). Additionally, two other planes were reported to have entered the southwest sector of the ADIZ.

In response to this provocative move, Taiwan swiftly deployed aircraft, naval ships, and air defence missile systems to monitor and counter the PLA’s activities.

This incident marks yet another episode in a series of escalations in recent months. Throughout March, Taiwan has recorded a total of 185 instances of Chinese military aircraft and 113 naval vessels operating near its territory.

Just two days prior, on March 16, the MND detected 10 Chinese military aircraft and eight naval vessels encircling Taiwan. Among these aircraft, six breached Taiwan’s ADIZ, including both the southwest and eastern sectors.

This surge in military activity is part of China’s broader strategy, which has seen a significant increase in the employment of gray zone tactics since September 2020. Gray zone tactics, as defined by Taiwan News, encompass efforts beyond conventional deterrence and assurance, aimed at achieving security objectives without direct and overt use of force.

The repeated violations of Taiwan’s airspace and territorial waters by Chinese military assets have continued to exacerbate tensions in the region. As both sides remain vigilant, the situation in the Taiwan Strait remains a focal point of international concern.