Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) reported that from 6 am on Saturday to 6 am on Sunday, 36 Chinese military aircraft and 12 naval vessels were active around Taiwan. Among the aircraft, 31 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, entering Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern Air Defence Identification Zones (ADIZ). In response, Taiwan deployed aircraft, naval ships, and coastal-based missile systems to monitor the activity.
The MND posted on social media platform X, “36 PLA aircraft and 12 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 31 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded.”
In August alone, Taiwan detected PLA aircraft 71 times and Chinese ships 36 times. Since September 2020, China has intensified its use of gray zone tactics—military actions intended to achieve objectives without direct conflict—around Taiwan.
This incident is part of a pattern of increased Chinese military activity in the region. China regularly conducts air and naval incursions into Taiwan’s ADIZ and military exercises near the island. Taiwan, which has been governed independently since 1949, faces ongoing pressure from China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory and seeks eventual reunification, potentially by force.
On Saturday, Taiwan’s MND also reported 18 Chinese aircraft and 13 naval vessels detected near the Taiwan Strait as of 6 am local time. Eleven of these aircraft crossed the median line, entering Taiwan’s southwestern ADIZ. Taiwan’s military monitored and responded to these movements. In a statement on X, the MND said, “18 PLA aircraft and 13 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 11 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s southwestern and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.