Taipei, Dec 25: Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) reported Wednesday the detection of three Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels operating around the island, with one aircraft entering its eastern Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). The latest activity underscores a pattern of heightened Chinese military maneuvers near Taiwan in recent weeks.
On Tuesday, eight Chinese aircraft and five naval vessels were spotted near Taiwan. Of the aircraft, six crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the island’s northern and southwestern ADIZ, ANI reported.
In response, Taiwan’s MND said it had monitored the situation closely and taken appropriate measures. “#ROCArmed Forces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly,” the ministry said on X, formerly Twitter.
The latest incursions come against the backdrop of rising tensions between China and the U.S. over arms sales to Taiwan. China’s Foreign Ministry sharply criticized the U.S. arms package, calling Taiwan the “first red line that cannot be crossed” in U.S.-China relations.
A spokesperson for the ministry accused the U.S. of “playing with fire,” adding, “The arms deal seriously violates the one-China principle and the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques. It infringes on China’s sovereignty and sends a seriously wrong signal to ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces.”
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte joined the international chorus of concern, accusing China of “bullying Taiwan” and pursuing strategies that could undermine global security.
“We need to be clear-eyed about China’s ambitions,” Rutte said. “China is substantially building up its forces, including nuclear weapons, with no transparency and no limitations.” He warned that China’s military ambitions, including a nuclear arsenal projected to exceed 1,000 warheads by 2030, pose a significant challenge to international stability.
Chinese military operations near Taiwan have intensified in recent weeks, with multiple incidents of aircraft entering Taiwan’s ADIZ. Analysts view the maneuvers as Beijing’s attempt to intimidate Taiwan and demonstrate its opposition to the growing diplomatic and military support Taiwan receives from the U.S. and other allies.
Taiwan has consistently condemned these actions as a violation of its sovereignty and a threat to regional peace. Meanwhile, China maintains its claim over Taiwan as part of its territory, asserting that reunification—by force if necessary—is inevitable.
The Taiwan Strait remains a flashpoint for U.S.-China relations, with Beijing seeking to assert its claims while Washington bolsters its support for Taipei. The rising frequency of military activity near Taiwan highlights the fragile balance in the region and the growing risk of escalation.
