Taiwan responds to 70 Chinese warplanes, 11 warships tracked around with defense measures
The ministry has tasked combat aircraft, navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to monitor the situation
Taipei, April 10: Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence detected 70 Chinese military aircraft and 11 naval ships around the country by 6 am on Monday.
In response, the ministry has tasked combat aircraft, navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to monitor the situation. 35 of the aircraft, which included SU-30 fighter jets, J-11 and J-10 interceptors, TB-001 unmanned combat aerial vehicles, Y-9EW and Y-8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft, J-15 fighter jets, CH-4 drones, and KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft, had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwest and southeast air defense identification zones.
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"70 PLA aircraft and 11 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected by 6 a.m.(UTC 8) today. R.O.C. Armed Forces have monitored the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond these activities," Taiwan's Defence Ministry said in a tweet. "35 of the detected aircraft(SU-30*8, J-11*4, J-10*6, J-16*8, TB-001 UCAV, Y-9EW, Y-8 ASW, J-15*4, CH-4 UCAV, KJ-500 AEW&C) had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwest and southeast ADIZ, flight paths as illustrated," it added.
The drills, which began on April 8 after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen returned from a meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the United States, have been met with resistance from Taiwan. The Ministry of National Defence lodged a protest against the Chinese military exercises, claiming that the country would not yield to threats. Taiwan also deployed aircraft, naval boats, and land-based missiles to observe the People's Liberation Army's planes and ships.
The tensions between China and Taiwan escalated after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the country in August 2020. China raised objections to the visit, which it considers as part of its territory. Taiwan has since taken a stand against China by responding to their military activities with its own defense measures.
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