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Taiwan Tracks Chinese Military Sorties, Naval Vessels Near Territory

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense reported detecting two Chinese military aircraft and five naval vessels operating around the island as of Thursday morning, along with five Chinese balloons. This follows similar incidents on Wednesday and Tuesday, where multiple PLA sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's air defense identification zone. The ministry stated it monitored and responded to all these situations. Earlier in the week, a Chinese surveillance drone's incursion near Taiwan-controlled islands was condemned as a reckless and provocative act that threatens regional stability.

Key Points: Taiwan Detects Chinese Aircraft, Naval Vessels Near Territory

  • 2 PLA aircraft detected Thursday
  • 5 PLAN vessels near Taiwan
  • Multiple incursions into Taiwan's ADIZ
  • Chinese balloons also tracked
  • Ministry says it monitored and responded
2 min read

Taiwan detects 2 Chinese aircraft, 5 naval vessels around territory

Taiwan's defense ministry reports detecting multiple PLA aircraft, naval ships, and balloons operating around the island, with several incursions into its air defense zone.

"We have monitored the situation and responded. - Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense"

Taipei, January 22

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said it detected two PLA aircraft sorties, five PLAN vessels, and five Chinese balloons operating around Taiwan until 6 am on Thursday, adding that the situation was monitored and responded to accordingly.

In a post on X, the MND said, "2 sorties of PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 5 PRC ballons were detected during this timeframe. We have monitored the situation and responded."

On Wednesday, Taiwan's MND detected four sorties of Chinese military aircraft and six Chinese naval vessels operating around its territorial waters as of 6 am (local time) on Wednesday.

All four sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ.

In a post on X, the MND said, "4 sorties of PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 4 out of 4 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded."

Earlier on Tuesday, Taiwan's MND recorded two PLA aircraft and six PLAN vessels. Of the two, a sortie crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern ADIZ.

"2 sorties of PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 2 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded", it wrote on X.

Earlier on January 18, an incursion by a Chinese military drone near Taiwan-controlled islands raised renewed concerns over China's expanding pressure campaign in the South China Sea, with Taiwan warning that such actions threaten regional peace and stability.

According to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence, a Chinese surveillance drone entered the southwestern section of Taiwan's air defence identification zone in the early hours of the morning and moved toward the Pratas Islands, also known as Dongsha, as reported by The Taipei Times.

According to The Taipei Times, the ministry said the aircraft approached the islands shortly before dawn and briefly entered territorial airspace at an altitude beyond the effective reach of local air-defence systems. The garrison stationed on the islands was immediately instructed to raise alert levels and intensify aerial monitoring. After repeated warnings broadcast through international radio frequencies, the drone withdrew several minutes later. The ministry condemned the manoeuvre as reckless and provocative, stating that it violated international norms and further destabilised the region.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Reading this from Delhi. The use of balloons is a new tactic. It feels like a calculated pressure campaign, not just random patrols. The stability of the Taiwan Strait matters for global trade, which impacts all of us.
V
Vikram M
Honestly, this is becoming a daily news item. The world's focus is elsewhere, and these actions continue. Taiwan's restraint in just monitoring and responding is notable. Hope cooler heads prevail. 🙏
R
Rohit P
From an Indian strategic perspective, this is a textbook case of grey-zone warfare. Incremental steps to establish a new normal. The international community needs to be more vocal in supporting the status quo.
P
Priya S
It's worrying. Any conflict there would be disastrous. Many Indians have business and family ties in that region. We need stability, not these daily provocations. The drone incident near the islands was particularly reckless.
M
Michael C
While I understand China's stated position, the method of asserting it through constant military presence is counterproductive. It only hardens attitudes in Taiwan and alarms neighbors like Japan and the Philippines, and by extension, countries like India watching closely.

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