Taiwan Detects 19 Chinese Military Aircraft, 7 Naval Vessels Closing In
In a statement on X, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence stated, "19 PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC 8) today. 12 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern, and eastern ADIZ".
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) has detected 19 Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels close to the country in the last 24 hours until 6 am (local time) today.
According to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence, among the 19 Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 12 crossed the Taiwan Strait median line.
After China's action, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed air defence missile systems to track the activities of the People's Liberation Army, Taiwan News reported.
In a statement shared on X, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence stated, "19 PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC 8) today. 12 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern, and eastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities."
19 PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. today. 12 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern, and eastern ADIZ. pic.twitter.com/Hb4HOVOOdF
— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) February 29, 2024
So far in February, Taiwan has detected Chinese military aircraft 253 times and naval ships 150 times, according to a Taiwan News report. Since September 2020, China has intensified its use of gray zone tactics by increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships operating around Taiwan.
Gray zone tactics have been described as "effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempt to achieve one's security objectives without resorting to direct and sizable use of force," Taiwan News reported.
On February 14, the US nominee to helm US Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel Paparo, warned that China could soon have the capability to use military exercises to conceal an invasion of Taiwan, Taiwan News reported.
Admiral Paparo made the remarks at a conference organised by the Defence Innovation Unit in Silicon Valley to discuss ways in which the private sector can collaborate with the US military in leveraging emerging commercial technologies to strengthen America's defences.