Taiwan reports Chinese military incursions near the island amid escalating tensions

ANI |
Updated: April 25, 2024 09:47 IST

Taipei (Taiwan), April 25 (ANI): Amid escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait, the island nation’s Ministry of National Defense reported the detection of Chinese military aircraft and ships operating near Taiwan.
According to official statements, ten aircraft of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and six ships of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) were detected at 6 a.m. today (local time).
Of particular significance was the seven-aircraft invasion across the center line of the Taiwan Strait, breaching Taiwan’s southwestern Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). Taiwan’s armed forces, represented by the Republic of China Armed Forces (ROCArmedForces), closely monitored the situation and responded appropriately to the perceived threat.
“10 PLA ​​(Chinese) aircraft and 6 PLAN (Chinese) ships operating around Taiwan were detected until 06:00 (UTC+8) today. 7 of the aircraft crossed the center line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the southwestern ADIZ from Taiwan. #ROCArmedForces have been monitoring the situation and responding accordingly,” Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said in a message on X.

The provocative maneuvers by Chinese military assets come amid heightened tensions between Taiwan and China, with Beijing asserting its territorial claims over the self-governing island. Taiwan has long been a source of contention between China and the international community, with Beijing viewing the island as an integral part of its territory while Taiwan retains its sovereignty.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) said on Wednesday that it detected seven naval vessels and two Chinese military aircraft across the country between 6 a.m. (local time) and 6 a.m. (local time).
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Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said it was using its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance system to monitor the situation. In response to China’s action, Taiwan sent combat patrol planes and naval ships and deployed land-based air defense missile systems.
So far in April, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has detected Chinese military aircraft 207 times and naval vessels 144 times. According to the Taiwan News report, since September 2020, China has intensified the use of “gray zone tactics” by deploying military aircraft and naval vessels across the median line and within Taiwan’s ADIZ. (ANI)