Taiwan reports Chinese aircraft and naval ship activity near the island
Taipei: On Thursday, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) said it has found one government ship, 14 naval vessels, and 45 Chinese aircraft close to the island. According to the MND, 34 of the 45 aircraft entered the central and southern Air Defense Identification Zones (ADIZ) of the island after crossing the Taiwan Strait median line.
“Up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today, 45 PLA aircraft, 14 PLAN vessels, and 1 official ship were detected operating around Taiwan,” the MND said in a statement on X. 34 sorties penetrated Taiwan’s central and southern ADIZ after crossing the median line. We have kept an eye on the issue and taken appropriate action.
Taiwan’s MND said earlier Wednesday that it had found two government ships, 14 navy vessels, and 11 Chinese aircraft close to the island. Nine of the 11 planes entered the island’s northern, central, southwestern, and southeast Air Defense Identification Zones (ADIZ) after crossing the Taiwan Strait’s median line, according to the MND.
In a post on X, the MND stated: “Up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today, 11 PLA aircraft, 14 PLAN vessels, and two official ships were detected operating around Taiwan.” Nine sorties reached Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern, and southeast ADIZ after crossing the median line. We have kept an eye on things and taken action.
According to a Taiwan News article on Wednesday, Taiwan will start sea acceptance testing (SAT) of its first domestically constructed submarine prototype, Hai Kun or Narwhal, in April of this year.
Military spokeswoman Sun Li-fang denied reports that the nation’s first domestically constructed submarine was experiencing power supply issues that delayed harbor acceptance tests, according to the local news site.
In the face of mounting tensions with Beijing and military pressure from China, Taiwan’s indigenous submarine is intended to strengthen the island’s underwater warfare capabilities. With fighter planes and naval ships patrolling and practicing exercises close to Taiwan, China is still engaging in hostile military operations.
