Taiwan's Military Reports Discovery of Numerous Chinese Aircraft Near Island

Taiwan's armed forces have detected 26 aircraft and 7 vessels from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) near the island within a 24-hour period. This information was released by Taiwan's Ministry of Defense.

At least 18 aircraft crossed the so-called median line of the Taiwan Strait or entered the identification zone for air defense. Among these were three Su-30 fighter jets, two J-10s, eight J-16s, as well as one BZK-005 and CH-4 reconnaissance drones, the anti-submarine Y-8, and the Y-8 electronic surveillance aircraft along with the Y-9 electronic warfare aircraft.

On September 18, Taiwan's armed forces reported that they recorded 103 PLA military aircraft flying near the island in just one day. This marked the largest military operation of its kind since at least last August. According to a previously published annual report by the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense, PLA aircraft and vessels have begun to cross the median line of the Taiwan Strait and enter the island's air defense identification zone much more frequently following the visit of then-Speaker of the U.S. House Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi's representatives visited Taipei on August 2-3, 2022.

Taiwan has been governed by its own administration since 1949, when some forces of the Kuomintang led by Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) fled there after losing the Chinese Civil War. Beijing considers Taiwan to be one of the provinces of the People's Republic of China.