Taipei, December 6 (ANI): Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence on Saturday reported an increase in Chinese military activity around its territory since Friday, recording 29 sorties by PLA aircraft and six PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8).
In a post on X, the MND said 19 of the 29 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, central and southwestern Air Defence Identification Zones (ADIZ). “29 sorties of PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 19 out of 29 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, central and southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded,” the MND stated.
Earlier on Friday, the MND recorded 14 sorties by PLA aircraft and five PLAN vessels. It said eight of those 14 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern and southwestern ADIZs. “14 sorties of PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 8 out of 14 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern and southwestern ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded,” the MND posted.
Separately, a former US defence official from the Biden administration voiced support for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi after her remarks that Japan might assist in defending Taiwan, calling Beijing’s reaction “inappropriate,” the Taipei Times reported. Ely Ratner, who served as assistant secretary of defence for Indo-Pacific security affairs from 2021 to 2025, said Takaichi’s comments echoed Japan’s official stance.
On November 7, Takaichi said a Chinese assault on Taiwan could be considered “a situation threatening Japan’s survival,” potentially prompting military action. Her statement drew a sharp response from China, which imposed retaliatory measures affecting travel, study and trade with Japan, and halted the resumption of Japanese seafood imports. Xue Jian, the Chinese consul general in Osaka, posted (and later deleted) that Takaichi should be “decapitated”. (ANI)
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