TAIPEI, Taiwan: Taiwan detected a record 153 Chinese aircraft within a 25-hour period, ending at 6:00 am on Tuesday.
This marks the largest single-day incursion of Chinese military assets around the self-ruled island. In addition to fighter jets and drones, China deployed warships and coast guard boats to encircle Taiwan as part of large-scale military drills.
Taiwan responded by dispatching its own forces and heightening alerts, particularly on its outlying islands.
Taiwan condemned China’s actions as “irrational and provocative,” while the US labeled them “unwarranted” and warned against further escalation. Japan also expressed concerns and scrambled its fighter jets near its southern island of Yonaguni.
The exercises, dubbed Joint Sword 2024B, were held in areas surrounding Taiwan, with China declaring the drills a warning against Taiwan’s independence efforts. Of the 153 aircraft, 111 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, further intensifying tensions. Taiwan’s foreign ministry urged Beijing to avoid creating instability in the region.
Chinese military pressure has been increasing in recent years, and this latest drill marks the fourth round of large-scale exercises in just over two years. Despite the heightened tensions, many Taiwanese citizens remain unfazed by the provocations, confident in their security.
