Taipei [Taiwan], December 11 (ANI): Taiwan’s Ministry of Defence detected a total of 27 sorties of Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels operating around its territorial waters as of 9:05 a.m. (local time).
Of the 27 sorties, 22 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). The MND said the aircraft included various types such as J-10, H-6K and KJ-500, and that the sorties were conducting air-sea joint training along with other PLAN vessels. The ROC Armed Forces monitored the situation and responded accordingly.
Earlier, the MND reported that by 6 a.m. (UTC+8) there had been 15 sorties and six PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan, with all 15 sorties crossing the median line and entering Taiwan’s northern, southwestern and southeastern ADIZ. The ministry said it had monitored and responded to those activity reports as well.
Separately, a former US defense official from the Joe Biden administration voiced support for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi after her remarks indicating Japan might assist in defending Taiwan, calling Beijing’s reaction “inappropriate,” according to the Taipei Times. Ely Ratner, who served as assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs from 2021 to 2025, said Takaichi’s comments echoed Japan’s official stance.
On November 7, Takaichi told parliament that a Chinese assault on Taiwan could be considered “a situation threatening Japan’s survival,” potentially justifying military action. She is thought to be the first Japanese leader in decades to openly suggest Japan might become militarily involved in a Taiwan Strait crisis.
Her remarks angered China, which imposed retaliatory measures targeting Japan’s economy, including travel and study warnings and suspending the resumption of Japanese seafood imports. Xue Jian, the Chinese consul general in Osaka, made a now-deleted social media post saying Takaichi should be “decapitated”. (ANI)
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