TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Up to 47 Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 12 People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels, and nine official ships have been active around the Taiwan Strait since Monday, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND, 國防部) reported on Tuesday, Dec. 10.
The MND deployed combat air patrol (CAP) aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems to monitor and respond to these maneuvers. Notably, 16 PLA aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern air defense identification zone (ADIZ). The ministry's trajectory map also revealed that 26 Chinese military aircraft operated in Taiwan's northern ADIZ from 7:47 a.m. to 7:06 p.m. on Monday, approaching as close as 30 nautical miles northeast of Dongyin (東引).
Also, six Chinese military aircraft and drones patrolled the median line of the Taiwan Strait from 8:17 a.m. on Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday, with one crossing into Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. Furthermore, 15 PLA aircraft entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ from 7:46 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. on Monday. This heightened military activity coincides with Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) recent visit to allies in the South Pacific, transiting through Hawaii and Guam.
On Monday, the MND announced that China has set up seven "reserved" airspace zones east of Zhejiang (浙江) and Fujian (福建). A response center was established, and all units were instructed to remain on high alert, emphasizing vigilant surveillance of Chinese activities.
