Taipei [Taiwan], July 21 : Taiwan reported high military activity on Sunday, detecting 22 Chinese aircraft and 8 Chinese naval vessels around its territory.
The island nation's Ministry of National Defence (MND) in a statement said that China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels have been detected in and around Taiwan's Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ).
{{{{twitter_post_id####}}}}22 PLA aircraft and 8 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 15 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly. pic.twitter.com/LOeBCajpNk— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) July 21, 2024
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence, in a post on X, said, "22 PLA aircraft and 8 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 15 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly."
Earlier, on Saturday, MND detected 22 PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels in the vicinity of Taiwan, marking a notable escalation in military activities.
The incident comes amid rising tensions across the Taiwan Strait, as China has increased its military presence and conducted frequent drills in the region. The manoeuvres are seen as part of Beijing's ongoing pressure campaign against Taiwan, which China views as a renegade province.
In recent months, both Taiwan and China have experienced heightened military interactions, including regular incursions into Taiwan's ADIZ and increased naval patrols in the Taiwan Strait. These activities are viewed as efforts by China to assert its claims over Taiwan and challenge Taiwan's sovereignty.
The increased military activity by China has drawn concerns from international observers and partners of Taiwan.
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