Detection of Chinese Vessels
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) detected the presence of one People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessel and one official ship operating around its territorial waters as of 6 am (local time) on Saturday, July 11, 2026. The MND confirmed that the Republic of China (ROC) Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.
In a post on X, the MND stated, '1 PLAN vessels and 1 official ships operating around Taiwan detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded. No flight path illustration is provided, as we did not detect PLA aircraft operating around Taiwan during this timeframe.'
Previous Day's Activity
On Friday, July 10, the MND reported a larger presence, detecting two sorties of Chinese aircraft, five naval vessels, and three official ships operating around Taiwan. The MND posted on X, '2 sorties of PLA aircraft, 5 PLAN vessels and 3 official ships operating around Taiwan detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded.'
China's Stance on Taiwan
Earlier on July 3, China urged the US to handle Taiwan-related issues with extra prudence, emphasizing their far-reaching implications. Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, noted that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in a conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, discussed the need to remove disruptions, overcome obstacles, and stay firmly on the right course toward building a constructive bilateral relationship of strategic stability.
China's claim over Taiwan is rooted in historical, political, and legal arguments. Beijing asserts that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China, a position upheld by domestic laws and international statements. Taiwan, however, maintains a distinct identity, functioning independently with its own government, military, and economy. The status of Taiwan remains a significant point of international debate, testing principles of sovereignty, self-determination, and non-interference in international law, according to the United Service Institution of India.
