The Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of China stated that 21 sorties of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft were detected engaging in maritime activities on the morning of the 20th. Among them, 17 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait. The national defense forces used joint intelligence and surveillance measures to maintain vigilant monitoring and appropriate responses.
According to a news release from the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of China on the 20th, starting from 8:15 am, a total of 21 sorties of various types of PLA aircraft, including J-16s, Y-8s, and drones, were detected engaging in maritime activities. Among them, 17 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and its extension, entering the airspace in the northern, central, and southwestern regions, in coordination with PLA warships carrying out joint readiness patrols.
The Taiwan Ministry of National Defense pointed out that the national defense forces were closely monitoring using joint intelligence and surveillance means, and deployed mission aircraft, ships, and shore-based missile systems for appropriate responses.
Furthermore, the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense stated today that from 6:00 am on the 19th to 6:00 am today, 8 sorties of PLA aircraft (including 3 instances of crossing the median line and entering the southwestern airspace), and 8 instances of PLA warships were detected, continuing activities around the Taiwan Strait. The Ministry of National Defense emphasized that the national defense forces were closely monitoring and responding using mission aircraft, ships, and shore-based missile systems.
In addition, on the 18th, the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense announced that the PLA plans to launch a carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on the 21st, flying towards the western Pacific Ocean, passing through Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).