TAIPEI CITY: Chinese warships and aircraft remained active in the vicinity of Taiwan on Tuesday, despite Beijing declaring an end to its three-day-long war games.
Taiwan’s defense ministry reported that nine Chinese warships and 26 aircraft were detected around the island as of 11:00 am (0300 GMT) today (Tuesday).
During the military exercises, J15 fighter aircraft had been deployed off China’s Shandong aircraft carrier, and they were among the aircraft that crossed the median line.
The exercises were a response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with the United States (US) House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week, which Beijing warned would provoke retaliatory measures.
On the final day of military drills, Taiwan’s Ministry reported 12 Chinese warships and 91 aircraft near the island, with 54 planes entering its air defense identification zone (ADIZ).
This was the highest number of ADIZ incursions recorded in a day since October 2021. The drills involved the Shandong carrier battle group, and a military expert stated that the 232 air sorties conducted over three days were unprecedented.
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen criticized the military exercises, calling them a cause of instability in the region. China reiterated its claim over Taiwan and vowed to protect its sovereignty.
War games simulate Taiwan’s aerial blockade
The war games simulated an “aerial blockade” of Taiwan, with dozens of planes taking part. The United States sent its USS Milius guided-missile destroyer to contested parts of the South China Sea, drawing condemnation from China.
The US and the Philippines also launched their largest joint military exercise, involving almost 18,000 troops, with a live-fire drill in the South China Sea.
Experts warn that the continued presence of Chinese ships and aircraft could signal a rise in daily military displays, which Taiwan’s military is working to counter.
