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China's Massive Drills Near Taiwan: 77 Aircraft, 17 Ships Detected in 24 Hours

Taiwan's defence ministry detected 77 Chinese military aircraft and 17 naval vessels operating around the island within a 24-hour period. Of these, 35 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, entering Taiwan's northern, central, and southwestern air defence identification zones. The activity is part of China's ongoing "Justice Mission 2025" drills, which involve a full projection of force by the PLA's Eastern Theatre Command. Taiwan's Defence Minister warned that these provocative actions threaten regional stability and the safety of civilian air and maritime traffic.

Key Points: Taiwan Detects 77 Chinese Aircraft, 17 Ships in Major Drills

  • 77 PLA aircraft detected
  • 35 crossed Taiwan Strait median line
  • Drills codenamed 'Justice Mission 2025'
  • Taiwan warns of regional instability
2 min read

Taiwan detects 77 Chinese aircraft, 17 naval vessels around its territory as China conducts extensive drills

Taiwan reports 77 PLA aircraft & 17 naval vessels near its territory amid China's 'Justice Mission 2025' drills, with 35 jets crossing the Taiwan Strait median line.

"The PLA's provocative actions threaten regional stability and civilian traffic. – Taiwan's Defence Minister Wellington Koo"

Taipei, December 31

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence on Wednesday said it detected 77 Chinese military aircraft and 17 naval vessels operating around the island as of 6 am local time, amid ongoing military drills by China's People's Liberation Army.

In a post on X, the MND said that 35 of the 77 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern, central and southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ).

"77 PLA aircraft, 17 PLAN vessels and 8 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 35 out of 77 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, central and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded," the ministry said.

The latest activity comes after the PLA's Eastern Theatre Command conducted military drills in waters east of Taiwan, which it described as an all-dimensional force projection.

Taiwan's Minister of National Defence Wellington Koo on Tuesday said that the PLA's actions pose a risk to regional stability. According to Taiwan's MND, Koo said the drills also threaten civilian maritime and air traffic.

"Minister of National Defence Wellington Koo said today that the PLA's provocative actions threaten regional stability and civilian traffic. Following the President's guidance, the ROC Armed Forces will respond calmly and safeguard our nation's security and democracy," the MND said in a separate post.

The ongoing drills, codenamed 'Justice Mission 2025', involve the PLA Eastern Theatre Command deploying its Army, Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force units to conduct joint military exercises in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, southwest, southeast and east of Taiwan, according to Taiwan's defence ministry.

On Tuesday, the MND said it had recorded a higher level of activity, detecting 130 PLA aircraft, 14 PLAN vessels and eight official ships operating around Taiwan until 6 am.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The scale of these exercises is alarming. 77 aircraft and 17 vessels? It feels like a show of force meant to intimidate. The world cannot afford another flashpoint. The safety of civilian traffic must be paramount. 🙏
R
Rohit P
Reading this from Delhi. China's pattern of aggressive posturing is nothing new. We see it in Ladakh, they do it in the Taiwan Strait. It disrupts the status quo and creates unnecessary tension. Taiwan's calm response is commendable.
S
Sarah B
While I respect the One-China policy that many nations follow, these massive military drills are an overreaction. There are better ways to handle disagreements. This just increases the risk of a tragic miscalculation.
V
Vikram M
'Justice Mission 2025' – what an ironic name for exercises that threaten peace. The median line exists for a reason. Crossing it with 35 aircraft is a direct challenge. The international community needs to take note.
M
Michael C
The article says these actions threaten civilian air and maritime traffic. That's the most worrying part. Innocent people going about their lives shouldn't be put at risk because of military posturing. Safety first, always.
K
Kavya N
As an Indian, I believe in peaceful coexistence. This

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