Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported detecting 15 sorties of Chinese military aircraft, five People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels and one official ship operating near its territorial waters through 6 a.m. (UTC+8) on Thursday. According to the MND, 14 of the 15 aircraft sorties entered Taiwan’s southwestern air defence identification zone (ADIZ). The ministry said it monitored the activity and took appropriate responses.
The MND posted the update on X. It noted that on the previous day it had detected six Chinese aircraft sorties, five PLAN vessels and one ship operating around Taiwan.
Beijing’s claim over Taiwan rests on historical, political and legal arguments, with the Chinese government asserting the island is part of China. Taiwan, however, maintains its own government, military and economy and projects a distinct political identity. The island’s status remains a sensitive international issue involving competing claims of sovereignty and questions of self‑determination.
Historically, Chinese claims trace back to the Qing Dynasty’s annexation of Taiwan in 1683. Taiwan was ceded to Japan after the 1895 First Sino‑Japanese War and remained under Japanese rule until the end of World War II, when it reverted to Chinese administration in a transfer that was not fully formalized. Following the 1949 Chinese Civil War, the People’s Republic of China was established on the mainland while the Republic of China government relocated to Taiwan, producing enduring dual claims. Taiwan has operated as a de facto independent polity but has avoided a formal declaration of independence to reduce the risk of military confrontation with the PRC.
