Taiwan reports major PLA incursion as 21 Chinese military aircraft operate near island

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) reported a significant escalation in cross-strait tensions today, revealing that 21 aircraft of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), including J-16 fighter jets, KJ-500 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platforms, combat and support aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), were detected conducting military operations around the island starting at 1545 hours.

According to the MND, 15 of these aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s northern, central, and southwestern airspace, manoeuvring in coordination with PLA naval vessels under the guise of a "joint combat readiness patrol." The operations, the MND said, represent an attempt to intimidate Taiwan and destabilise the region, directly impacting air and maritime security.

In response, Taiwan’s Armed Forces activated integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems and dispatched combat air patrol aircraft and naval vessels, while also deploying shore-based missile systems to track and deter further incursions.

The MND strongly condemned the PLA's actions as highly provocative and warned that such manoeuvres undermine the regional status quo, violate the maritime rights of neighbouring nations, and contribute to growing instability in the Indo-Pacific.

This latest display of military pressure follows a series of similar activities by China in recent months, which Taipei views as part of a broader campaign to wear down Taiwan’s defences and test regional responses. The MND reaffirmed Taiwan’s commitment to defending its airspace and sovereignty, while calling on the international community to take note of Beijing’s coercive tactics.