Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense: 12 Chinese aircraft and five naval ships detected near the island

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense: By 6 a.m. (local time), 12 Chinese planes and five navy vessels were seen in the area, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND), which confirmed Chinese military action near the island on Thursday.

Additionally, according to the MND, five of these planes went over the median line and into the northern and southern Air Defense Identification Zones (ADIZ) of Taiwan.

The ROC Armed Forces responded by deploying countermeasures, such as coastal missile systems, Navy ships, and Combat Air Patrol (CAP) aircraft.

MND shared a post on X that said, “Up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today, 12 PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN vessels were detected operating around Taiwan.” Five of the planes entered Taiwan’s northern and southern ADIZ after crossing the median line. We have kept an eye on the issue and taken appropriate action.

China launched satellites from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) a day earlier, according to MND, with a flight path that passed over Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ.

Taiwan’s MND shared a post on X that said, “China launched satellites from #XSLC at 9:09 a.m. (UTC+8), with the flight path over our southwestern ADIZ toward the Western Pacific.”

“There is no danger since the height is above the atmosphere. The article further said that #ROCArmedForces kept an eye on the procedure and were prepared to react.

Additionally, Taiwan’s military had earlier, on October 20, announced that American and Canadian navy ships had passed across the Taiwan Strait from south to north.

MND shared a post on X that said, “Today, one US and one Canadian navy ship crossed the Taiwan Strait from south to north. The situation remained normal throughout this time, and #ROCArmedForces continued to have complete control over the nearby sea and airspace.”

With Beijing’s periodic military actions around the island, tensions between China and Taiwan are exacerbated by the most recent Chinese military operation.

Since 1949, Taiwan has operated under its own government. But China insists on ultimate reunification, even if it means using force, since it views Taiwan as part of its territory.