The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defence (MND) announced the detection of 29 sorties of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and 6 People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels operating near Taiwan on Friday. According to a post on X, 17 of the 29 aircraft sorties crossed the median line, entering Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern, and eastern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). The MND stated that it is closely monitoring the situation and has responded accordingly. This incident aligns with a pattern of increasing Chinese military activity in the region. Concurrently, Taiwan’s President, Lai Ching-te, has directed the military to reinforce security surveillance. He noted that the recent conflict in West Asia has not deterred China from its pressure tactics, and highlighted the recent presence of Chinese aircraft carriers, the Shandong and Liaoning, in nearby waters. President Lai emphasized the importance of maintaining close contact with allies and monitoring the situation’s impact on regional security, referencing the United States Indo-Pacific Command’s increased Force Protection Condition level across the region.
