Taiwan’s defence ministry said that People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and military movements made several violations in its region, only a day after China said that it had carried out exercises near the island on August 16.
The ministry said that they retaliated against the drill via CAP (controlled air patrol), naval vessels and land-ballistic missile systems.
“5 PLAN vessels and 17 PLA aircraft around our surrounding region were detected today (August 16, 2022) until 1700(GMT+8). #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded to these activities with aircraft in CAP, naval vessels, and land-based missile systems,” Taiwan’s ministry of defence shared on Twitter.
Detailing the latest alleged Chinese encroachment, Taiwan’s defence ministry shared graphics of the location of Chinese intruders and said that out of 17 PLA aircraft and five PLA vessels, 10 had flown past the ‘east part of Taiwan strait’.
10 of the detected aircraft (SU-30*4, J-11*3, J-16*2 and Y-8 ELINT) had flown on the east part of the median line of the Taiwan Strait and our SW ADIZ, flight paths as illustrated.
— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C.
(@MoNDefense) August 16, 2022
It may be noted that the PLA’s latest exercise surfaced after the Chinese military announced that it would conduct fresh drills around President Tsai Ing-wen-led country.
Against the backdrop of US lawmakers’ visiting the country, an alert and seemingly provoked China issued a White Paper with regards to its intentions in Taiwan, as testimony that Taiwan belonged to China.