In a concerning development, Taiwan has reported detecting the highest number of Chinese military aircraft near the island in a 24-hour period so far this year. The increased activity comes as Beijing carries out military drills that are coinciding with the NATO summit in Washington, DC.
According to Taiwan's Ministry of Defence, a total of 66 PLA aircraft and 7 naval vessels were detected around the island as of 6 am local time on Thursday. Notably, 56 of the aircraft crossed the sensitive median line that bisects the narrow 180-kilometre (112-mile) Taiwan Strait, separating the self-governing island from mainland China.
The ministry also released two photographs, one showing a Chinese J-16 fighter and the other a nuclear-capable H-6 bomber, which it said were taken recently. The military has a detailed grasp of the activities in the seas and waters around the Taiwan Strait, including of the Chinese communists' aircraft and ships, ministry spokesperson Sun Li-fang said.
The surge in Chinese military activity around Taiwan coincides with the ongoing NATO summit in Washington, where leaders have accused China of acting as a decisive enabler of Russia's war against Ukraine and posing systemic challenges to Europe and its security.
Beijing has long claimed Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to bring the island under its control, by force if necessary. The increased military pressure from China has prompted concerns that the risk of conflict in the Taiwan Strait is growing.
Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has advocated strengthening the island's identity and forging closer ties with the international community, a stance that has angered Beijing. Chinese officials have labelled Tsai a dangerous separatist and reiterated their commitment to reunifying Taiwan with the mainland.
The latest detection of a record number of Chinese warplanes near Taiwan underscores the heightened tensions in the region and the potential for miscalculation or escalation. As the world's attention is focused on the NATO summit, the situation in the Taiwan Strait remains a source of concern for global stability and security.
