Taiwan's defence ministry reported fresh Chinese military activity in the vicinity of the island on Saturday, marking a continued pattern of pressure from Beijing. The latest developments come amidst heightened regional tensions following recent large-scale Chinese military drills.
Latest Incursions Detected
According to an official social media post from Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND), four sorties of People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, six naval (PLAN) vessels, and one official ship were detected operating around Taiwan up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) on Saturday. Crucially, the ministry stated that one of the four aircraft sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's central Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ).
The Taiwanese military confirmed it had monitored the situation and responded accordingly. This incident follows similar reports from Friday, when Taiwan tracked six PLAN vessels, one official ship, and two balloons around its territorial waters.
Background of Rising Tensions
The ongoing aerial and naval patrols occur in the wake of major Chinese military exercises conducted at the end of December. The two-day live-fire drills, dubbed "Justice Mission-2025," concluded on December 31 and were described by Beijing as a "stern warning" to forces advocating for Taiwan's independence.
The scale of those exercises was significant. Taiwan's MND reported that on the second day, the PLA launched 27 rockets, with 10 landing within Taiwan's 24-nautical-mile contiguous zone. This was noted as the closest-ever recorded Chinese live-fire activity near the island. The disruption was substantial, with Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration confirming that 857 international flights and 84 domestic routes were affected, forcing rerouting and cancellations.
International Reactions and Concerns
The recent Chinese military posture has drawn concern from multiple global powers. The United States Department of State issued a statement urging restraint, arguing that China's military activities "increase tensions unnecessarily." The US called on Beijing to cease military pressure and engage in meaningful dialogue.
This American response is contextualised by the recent US administration's announcement of a proposed arms sales package to Taiwan valued at over $11 billion, which, if approved by Congress, would be the largest such assistance to the island.
Concern is not limited to Washington. A coalition of nations including the European Union, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines have all voiced serious apprehension. The European External Action Service emphasised that peace in the Taiwan Strait is vital to global security and prosperity, warning against unilateral attempts to change the status quo through coercion.
The situation underscores the fragile stability in the Taiwan Strait, with continued military manoeuvres and diplomatic statements keeping the region on high alert.
