Taiwan detects 66 Chinese military aircraft around island

By Anadolu staff

Taiwan said Thursday that 66 Chinese military aircraft and seven vessels had been detected around the self-ruled island.

The Defense Ministry said that 56 of the aircraft crossed the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered its air defense identification zone.

"66 PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 56 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern and southeastern ADIZ," Taiwan's Defense Ministry said in a statement, referring to the self-declared air defense identification zone, which the two militaries across the Taiwan Strait avoid crossing.

“Republic of China (Taiwan) armed forces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly,” the statement added.

On Wednesday, Taiwan said that 37 Chinese military aircraft had been detected around the island and 36 of them crossed the ADIZ.

China views Taiwan as a “breakaway province” despite Taipei having governed itself since 1949. Beijing has vowed to reunify the island, including by force if necessary.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid