Taiwan on Alert: Chinese Warplanes Conduct Joint Combat Readiness Patrol

Heightened Military Activity in the Taiwan Strait Raises Regional Tensions

Taipei, May 1 - The Ministry of National Defense (MND) of Taiwan reported Thursday that a significant number of Chinese military aircraft were detected near Taiwan on Wednesday. This activity was part of a "joint combat readiness patrol" drill conducted by China.

The MND revealed that a total of 34 Chinese aircraft were identified in the vicinity of Taiwan. Twenty of these aircraft participated in the drill, which involved both the Chinese Air Force and Navy, according to information released by the MND over Wednesday and Thursday.

Furthermore, the ministry reported that 16 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, while 11 crossed its extension. This line has traditionally served as an informal boundary between Taiwan and China since the late 1950s. However, since 2022, Chinese military aircraft have been increasingly crossing it.

The Chinese warplane activity on Wednesday was observed between 6 a.m. and 7:20 p.m., according to the MND.

In addition to the aircraft activity, the MND stated that eight Chinese military vessels and one other ship were detected during the 24-hour period beginning at 6 a.m. Wednesday.

The MND emphasized that it is closely monitoring the situation and has deployed combat air patrol aircraft and coastal missile systems in response to these activities.

Data from the MND indicates that the Chinese military has conducted 14 joint combat readiness patrol drills this year, including three in April.