On Wednesday, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported that a total of 49 Chinese military aircraft and vessels were monitored operating around the Taiwan Strait.
Of the 43 Chinese military aircraft and six military vessels identified, 25 aircraft were detected to have crossed the median line and its extension into Taiwan's surrounding northern, central, and southwestern Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). The ministry says the intruding aircraft were coordinating with naval activities while conducting joint combat readiness patrols.
Monitoring Chinese military activity from 6 a.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. today, the ministry provided a timeline of events. From 6:40 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. yesterday, 24 Chinese aircraft and drones were detected over the Taiwan Strait, with nine crossing the median line. Between 6:55 a.m. yesterday and 4:45 a.m. today, 16 additional Chinese aircraft and drones were spotted in the southwestern airspace. Another three aircraft were detected in the northern airspace outside Taiwan’s ADIZ from 8:40 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. yesterday.
The ministry assures the public that it is closely monitoring the situation. It says that air and naval patrols were deployed, and land-based missile systems were ready to respond to the activities.