Taipei:Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence reported a notable increase in Chinese military activity around the island over the past 24 hours. From 6 a.m. local time on Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday, Taiwan detected 9 Chinese military aircraft, 13 naval vessels, and one official ship operating in its vicinity.

The Ministry indicated that six of the nine People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern air defence identification zone (ADIZ). In response, Taiwan deployed aircraft, naval ships, and coastal missile systems to monitor and counter the PLA's movements.

"Nine PLA aircraft, 13 PLAN vessels, and one official ship were detected operating around Taiwan up until 6 a.m. today. Six of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait. We have been monitoring the situation and have responded accordingly," said the Ministry on X.

Further updates revealed that a total of 15 PLA aircraft, including J-16 and KJ-500 models, were observed in various areas. Twelve of these aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, entering the northern, central, and southwestern regions of Taiwan's ADIZ.

"Overall, 15 PLA aircraft of various types, including J-16 and KJ-500, were detected from 08:20 today. Twelve of these crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the northern, central, and southwestern ADIZ," the Ministry noted on X.

This increase in Chinese military activity contributes to ongoing tensions between Beijing and Taipei. China has been ramping up its military presence around Taiwan in recent months, including frequent air and naval incursions and military exercises near the island.

This month alone, Taiwan has tracked 260 Chinese military aircraft and 141 naval vessels. Since September 2020, China's gray zone tactics (incrementally increasing military presence without direct confrontation) have been evident. These tactics aim to achieve security objectives without resorting to outright military force.

Taiwan has operated independently since 1949, but China views the island as part of its territory and is committed to reunification, potentially by force. In July, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te criticized China's use of a United Nations resolution to justify its military actions and its linkage to the "One China" principle, which asserts that Taiwan is part of China.

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