Taipei [Taiwan], December 12 (ANI): Taiwan’s Ministry of Defence detected 33 sorties of Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels operating around its territorial waters as of 6:00 am (local time) on Friday.
Of the 33 sorties, 23 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ).
In a post on X, the MND said, “33 sorties of PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 23 out of 33 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded.”
Earlier on Thursday, the Ministry of Defence reported 27 sorties by Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels operating in its territorial waters as of 9:05 am (local time). Of the 27 sorties, 22 crossed the median line and entered the northern, central, southwestern and eastern ADIZ.
The MND added, “Overall 27 sorties of PLA aircraft in various types (including J-10, H-6K, KJ-500, etc.) were detected from 0905hr today. 22 out of 27 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the northern, central, southwestern and eastern ADIZ. In conducting air-sea joint training along with other PLAN vessels. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.”
Meanwhile, former US defence official Ely Ratner, who served as assistant secretary of defence for Indo-Pacific security affairs from 2021 to this year, expressed support for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi after her remarks that Japan might assist in defending Taiwan, calling Beijing’s reaction “inappropriate,” according to the Taipei Times.
On November 7, Takaichi said during a parliamentary meeting that a Chinese assault on Taiwan could be considered “a situation threatening Japan’s survival,” potentially prompting military action. She is believed to be the first Japanese leader in decades to openly suggest a Taiwan Strait crisis could lead to Japan’s military involvement.
Takaichi’s statement provoked anger in China, which has taken retaliatory measures affecting Japan’s economy, including issuing warnings against travel to or study in Japan and halting the resumption of Japanese seafood imports. Xue Jian, the Chinese consul general in Osaka, wrote in a now-deleted social media post that Takaichi should be “decapitated”. (ANI)
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