Taiwan detects 50 Chinese warplanes in fresh show of force
Taiwan’s defence ministry confirmed on Friday that the aircraft were detected in the 24-hour period leading up to 6 am, with an additional 24 aircraft spotted later in the day,including fighter jets and drones—engaged in joint air-sea drills with Chinese warships.
Taiwan has raised the alarm after spotting 50 Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels around the island, in one of the largest incursions this month, escalating concerns of growing pressure from Beijing days after a British naval ship passed through the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan’s defence ministry confirmed on Friday that the aircraft were detected in the 24-hour period leading up to 6 am, with an additional 24 aircraft spotted later in the day—including fighter jets and drones—engaged in joint air-sea drills with Chinese warships.
Among them, 15 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, a boundary that Beijing does not recognise but which traditionally serves as an unofficial buffer between the two sides.
Taiwan said it “monitored the situation and responded accordingly.”
The renewed military presence follows the June 18 transit of British Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Spey through the sensitive waterway, an act that Taiwan’s foreign ministry acknowledged on Thursday.
The 180-kilometre-wide Taiwan Strait is considered international waters by the United States and its allies, who argue it should remain open for all vessels.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly stated it will use force if necessary to assert control over the island, which it sees as a breakaway province.
In response, Taiwan maintains that it is a sovereign nation and has repeatedly accused Beijing of military intimidation, cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and other forms of coercion.
The British Navy’s latest passage marks its first through the strait since 2021, when HMS Richmond sailed the same route from Japan to Vietnam, drawing strong condemnation from China, which deployed its military to track the vessel.
This week’s developments echo previous high-alert episodes.
In April, Taiwan detected 76 aircraft and 15 naval vessels around its air and maritime borders during Chinese live-fire drills.
The most intense activity recorded came on October 15, when 153 Chinese aircraft were reported following a speech by Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te.
Taipei has long warned of Beijing’s growing assertiveness, saying the scale and frequency of these operations are part of a broader strategy to wear down the island’s defences and shake public morale.
