Taiwan Detects Record 153 Chinese Military Aircraft Post-Drills
Taiwan detected a record-breaking 153 Chinese military aircraft around the island following large-scale military drills conducted by China.
According to Taiwan’s defense ministry, the aircraft were spotted within a 25-hour period, from Monday evening until 6:00 am Tuesday (local time), marking the highest number recorded in a single day.
Large-Scale Chinese Drills Near Taiwan
The Chinese military, in its latest show of force, deployed fighter jets, drones, warships, and coast guard vessels to encircle Taiwan on Monday. The operation, dubbed Joint Sword 2024B, was conducted across areas to the north, south, and east of Taiwan, as part of Beijing’s continuous pressure on the island to accept its claims of sovereignty. Taiwan, in response, dispatched its own forces and placed its outlying islands on high alert.
Among the 153 aircraft detected, 111 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, the sensitive divide between mainland China and Taiwan. The Taiwanese defense ministry also recorded 14 Chinese navy ships operating near its waters during the same period.
Global Concerns Over Rising Tensions
China’s drills drew condemnation from Taiwan, which labeled the actions as “irrational and provocative.” The United States also criticized China’s military maneuvers, calling them “unwarranted” and warning that they risked further escalation in the region. Meanwhile, Japan expressed concerns over the drills and scrambled its fighter jets near its southern island of Yonaguni, which lies close to Taiwan. Japan’s government conveyed its unease to Beijing through diplomatic channels.
Ongoing Pressure from Beijing
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly vowed never to renounce the use of force to bring the island under its control. Monday’s exercises marked the fourth round of large-scale drills in just over two years, reflecting Beijing’s increasing military pressure on Taiwan.
The drills concluded around 6:00 pm on Monday, approximately 13 hours after they began. Beijing described the exercise as a “stern warning” to pro-independence forces in Taiwan, stressing that such military actions would continue as long as the island’s government, led by President Lai Ching-te, resists reunification efforts.
Lai, who took office in May, has been more vocal than his predecessor in defending Taiwan’s sovereignty, further angering Beijing. In his National Day speech, Lai reaffirmed Taiwan’s commitment to “resist annexation” and stressed that the two sides are “not subordinate to each other.”
The heightened tensions follow China’s earlier Joint Sword-2024A drills in May, which took place just days after Lai’s inauguration. The conflict between China and Taiwan stems from the Chinese civil war, when Chiang Kai-shek’s nationalist forces fled to the island in 1949 after being defeated by Mao Zedong’s communist army. Taiwan has been self-ruled ever since, while Beijing continues to claim sovereignty over the island.
