On the brink: Taiwan faces off with Chinese military intrusion

Taiwan’s defence ministry reported on Tuesday that eight Chinese aircraft violated the median line of the Taiwan Strait.

The ministry stated that these aircraft were part of a larger group of 24 Chinese warplanes, including fighter jets and bombers, sighted near Taiwan at approximately 8 am (00.00 GMT). Four Chinese warships were also observed taking part in a combat readiness patrol.

In response to this intrusion, the Taiwanese government dispatched aircraft and ships to deter the Chinese forces, with missile systems on standby to monitor them. The defence ministry emphasized the shared responsibility of all regional parties to maintain safety and stability. They cautioned that any actions that could potentially disrupt regional safety are undesirable.

Chinese military aircraft have been regularly spotted near Taiwan in recent years, usually in the southwestern part of the island’s air defence identification zone. Taiwan has been consistent in rejecting China’s sovereignty claims and has pledged to protect itself against any potential Chinese attack.

Taiwan reports Chinese aircraft and warships near its territory. Photo courtesy of David Mark from Pixabay.

The Taiwanese military also conducted live-fire exercises for the second day in a row from the southern coast, a region of strategic importance. Trainees reportedly operated Avenger air defence missile systems and fired Stinger missiles in a coastal drill zone located in Pingtung county.

Earlier on Monday, Humvees stationed in Pingtung fired off US-made TOW anti-tank missiles to destroy static shoreline targets. Overlooking the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, the Pacific Ocean, and the Bashi Channel, which separates Taiwan from the Philippines, Pingtung is a crucial vantage point for monitoring China’s military activities.