Chinese jets fly around Taiwan as island nation holds 5-day military drill

By Riyaz ul Khaliq and Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) - Chinese military jets flew around Taiwan on Tuesday amid five-day military exercises by Taipei, according to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry.

The ministry said People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and nine naval vessels were detected operating around the island nation.

“43 out of 59 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern, and eastern air defense identification zone (ADIZ),” it said, adding that two Chinese balloons were detected near Taiwan.

Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its "breakaway province," neither recognizes the median line nor the ADIZ over the Taiwan Strait.

China held military exercises around Taiwan on Monday when Taipei launched its own five-day “immediate response” military drill.

The drill by Taipei includes various aircraft and naval vessels aimed at “quickly countering sudden Chinese military actions,” according to Focus Taiwan news.

Taiwanese Defense Ministry in a video shared on X platform showed its armed forces “closely monitor maritime and aerial activities (and) joint operations to track and respond to PLA incursions.”

“Our mission is to always be prepared to defend the nation,” it said.

Beijing said Monday its military drills around Taiwan serve “a firm response to external forces who are hellbent on abetting and aiding ‘Taiwan independence,’ and a warning to ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces’ unconscionable acts."

The “relevant military operation is necessary, lawful and legitimate in order to defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing.