On July 11, Taiwan reported a significant surge in Chinese military activity around the island.
The Ministry of National Defense of Taiwan detected 66 Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels conducting patrols and maneuvers around the island, the ministry announced on social media platform X.
“Of these, 56 aircraft, including the latest J-16 fighter jets and H-6 nuclear-capable bombers, crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, considered an unofficial boundary between the mainland and the island, and entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) from both the north and south,” the post stated. Some of these aircraft approached within approximately 130 km of Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, while others came dangerously close to the southern tip of the island, within 60 km.
The increased military activity is linked to exercises involving the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong in the western Pacific, which commenced on Wednesday. These exercises traditionally involve a significant number of combat aircraft and naval vessels from the Chinese military.
This uptick in military maneuvers has raised tensions and concerns over the stability in the Taiwan Strait, as such actions are often seen as a show of force by China, which views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve reunification. Taiwan, on the other hand, considers itself a sovereign state.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the island’s security and sovereignty, stating that it is closely monitoring the situation and remains prepared to respond to any potential threats. The ministry also called on China to cease its provocations and respect the status quo in the Taiwan Strait to ensure regional peace and stability.
