Taiwan tracks 71 Chinese military aircraft, 9 naval ships

Taiwan had tracked 71 Chinese military aircraft and nine navy ships by 4 p.m. on Saturday, according to Taiwan News.

According to the Ministry of National Defense (MND), it included 45 planes that either crossed the Taiwan Strait’s middle line or entered Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ) from the southwest. The MND observed Chinese planes on Saturday, including the J-10, J-11, and J-16 fighter jets, the Xi’an Y-20 cargo plane, the H-6K strategic bomber, and the KJ-500 early warning aircraft, according to Channel News Asia.

This comes as Beijing scheduled three days of military drills surrounding Taiwan on Friday, the day after President Tsai Ing-wen returned to Taipei from a meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles.

According to Taiwan Daily, the ministry also released a photo shot from the Cheng Kung-class Chang Chien missile frigate of Navy officers watching the movements of China’s Ma’anshan frigate.
The military stated that it tasked aircraft in Combat Air Patrols (CAP) and naval boats, as well as land-based air defence missile systems, with monitoring the activities of Chinese military ships and aircraft.

While accusing China of generating regional insecurity and instability, the MND stated that the military forces would boost their vigilance and readiness while avoiding provocations and escalating tensions, according to Taiwan News.

Taiwan has submitted a protest against Chinese military drills in the vicinity of the island, stating that the government will not bow to threats.