Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) reported the detection of 13 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and seven People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels operating around its territory as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) on Friday.
According to the MND, 11 of the 13 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s northern and southwestern Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the MND stated, “13 PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.”
This follows a similar report on Thursday, when Taiwan detected 10 PLA aircraft and six PLAN vessels in the region, with six aircraft crossing the median line into Taiwan’s ADIZ.
Recent weeks have seen heightened Chinese military activity near Taiwan, including significant advancements in naval capabilities. The PLA Navy recently launched an advanced landing helicopter assault (LHA) vessel, a type of ship not possessed by any other navy, as well as mass production of floating bridge docks designed for beach landings. These developments suggest that China is strengthening its capability for potential amphibious invasions of Taiwan.
The Taiwan-China conflict is rooted in decades of geopolitical tension over Taiwan’s sovereignty. Officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), Taiwan functions as a de facto independent state with its own government, military, and economy.
However, Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway province and insists on the “One China” policy, which claims that there is only one China, with Beijing as its capital. This dispute dates back to the Chinese Civil War (1945–1949), when the ROC government retreated to Taiwan after the Communist Party, led by Mao Zedong, seized control of mainland China.
Beijing continues to advocate for reunification with Taiwan and has used diplomatic, economic, and military means to isolate the island internationally. Despite this, Taiwan remains steadfast in maintaining its independence, supported by a significant portion of its population and international allies.
The growing presence of Chinese military forces near Taiwan underscores the ongoing volatility in the region, with tensions remaining high as both sides monitor each other’s actions.
