Daijiworld Media Network - Taipei

Taipei, Apr 8: Taiwan Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Wednesday reported the detection of Chinese military activity around Taiwan, including aircraft sorties and naval vessels operating near its territorial waters.

According to the MND, two sorties of People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, nine naval vessels of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), and one official ship were tracked as of 6 am (local time). Both aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s northern and southeastern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ).

“The ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded,” the MND said in a statement.

A day earlier, similar activity was reported, with one Chinese aircraft sortie, eight naval vessels, and an official ship detected near Taiwan. The aircraft had entered the southwestern part of Taiwan’s ADIZ, prompting a response from the armed forces.

The developments come amid ongoing tensions between China and Taiwan, with Beijing continuing to assert its claim over the island. Taiwan, however, functions independently with its own government, military, and economy, maintaining a distinct political identity.

The dispute over Taiwan’s status remains a sensitive international issue, rooted in historical developments including the Chinese Civil War and competing claims between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (ROC).

With repeated military activity in the region, concerns continue to mount over stability and security in the Taiwan Strait.