Taiwan detects 2 Chinese aircraft sorties, 6 vessels around itself
Taipei, February 3
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected two sorties of Chinese military aircraft and six Chinese naval vessels around its territorial waters as of 6am on Tuesday.
Both sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ.
In a post on X, the MND said, "2 sorties of PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 2 out of 2 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded."
Earlier on Monday, the MND detected six PLAN vessels as of 6am (local time).
In a post on X, the MND said, "6 PLAN vessel operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded. Illustration of flight path is not provided due to no PLA aircraft operating around Taiwan were detected during this timeframe."
Meanwhile, South Korea and Japan have agreed to resume their bilateral naval search-and-rescue exercise for the first time in nine years as part of efforts to promote military exchange, Seoul's defence ministry said, according to the country's state media.
The meeting between the two US allies comes amid growing security threats from China and North Korea.
Ties between Tokyo and Beijing had also deteriorated since late last year following Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks in which she suggested that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could be considered a "survival-threatening situation", which would permit Japan to take military action. Beijing considers Taiwan as its own territory and maintains its right to take control of the island one day, including by force.
According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Taiwan is an integral and indivisible part of China, which has been separated from the mainland since 1949.Under its "one country, two systems", achieving China's complete reunification is a shared aspiration of all Chinese people, both within the country and abroad. The Communist Party of China and the Chinese government regard the fulfilment of this goal of peaceful reunification as a historic mission and have been working persistently toward it.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The article mentions Japan's stance too. The whole Asia-Pacific region is getting tense. We in India must focus on our own strategic autonomy and not get drawn into other conflicts. Our priority is our own borders and development.
These daily sortie reports are becoming routine. It feels like a calculated show of strength. While China claims Taiwan, such tactics only alienate the Taiwanese people further. You can't force unity with fighter jets. 🤔
Watching from a distance, the "one country, two systems" model mentioned seems like a theoretical solution, but the ground reality is very different. The people of Taiwan have their own democratic identity. Their voice matters.
The geopolitical ripple effects are clear—Japan and South Korea are strengthening ties because of this. India must tread carefully. Our relationship with Taiwan is economic and people-to-people, but we officially adhere to the One-China policy. It's a delicate balance.
Respectfully, the article could provide more context on Taiwan's perspective beyond just the defense ministry statements. What do citizens there feel? This isn't just about maps and sorties; it's about 23 million people. The human angle is missing.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.