A source has revealed to Reuters that in the past 24 hours, 71 Chinese military aircraft and about 20 military vessels, including ten Chinese ships and ten Taiwanese ships, were detected facing each other near the median line of the Taiwan Strait. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that China simulated attacks on foreign military targets off Taiwan's southwestern coast on Sunday.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command conducted joint precision strike simulations on the island of Taiwan on Sunday, marking the second day of its island encirclement combat alert patrols and "Joint Sword" exercises. The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense stated that it had detected 58 Chinese aircraft, including Su-30 fighters and H-6 bombers, along with nine vessels around the island. They added that special attention is being paid to the rocket forces of the PLA, which are responsible for the Chinese ground missile systems.
The ministry further remarked, regarding the movements of the Chinese rocket forces, that the military has a close understanding of the joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system and that air defense forces remain on heightened alert. They affirmed that Taiwan "will not escalate conflicts or cause disputes" and will respond "appropriately" to China's exercises.
In response to the drills, the American Institute in Taiwan commented that the United States is closely monitoring Chinese maneuvers around Taiwan and feels "comforted and confident" that it has sufficient resources and capabilities to ensure peace and stability in the region. China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, began military exercises around the island yesterday for three days, following the return of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen from a visit to the United States.
The narrowest part of the Taiwan Strait between the Chinese coast and the island is approximately 130 kilometers wide.