Taipei
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said it detected six Chinese military aircraft sorties and 10 naval vessels operating around the island as of 6 am local time on Friday.
According to the ministry, all six aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s northern, southwestern and eastern Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). Taiwan’s armed forces monitored the activity and responded accordingly.
In a statement posted on X, the ministry said the Republic of China (ROC) Armed Forces tracked the movements and maintained operational readiness.
The latest development follows similar activity reported a day earlier, when Taiwan detected seven Chinese aircraft sorties, seven naval vessels and one official ship near its territory. At the time, six of the seven aircraft reportedly crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern and southwestern ADIZ.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, while speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews earlier this week, said Washington would continue to address the “Taiwan problem” and claimed the situation was under control following discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory under its “One China” policy, while Taiwan operates with its own democratic government, military and economic system. The issue remains one of the most sensitive geopolitical flashpoints in the Indo-Pacific region.
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The roots of the dispute date back centuries, including the Qing Dynasty’s annexation of Taiwan in 1683 after defeating forces loyal to Ming-era leader Koxinga. However, modern-day Taiwan maintains a separate political identity and governance structure, making its status a continuing subject of international debate.