17 Chinese fighter jets and 7 ships enter Taiwan’s air defense identification zones | Defense News April 2024 Global Security Army Industry | Defense Security global news industry military year 2024

Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense reported on April 21, 2024 that 21 aircraft and 7 naval vessels of the Chinese armed forces had been detected operating around Taiwan until 6 a.m. (UTC+8). Notably, 17 of these aircraft crossed the center line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s northern and southwestern Air Defense Identification Zones (ADIZ).
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Map published by the Taiwan Ministry of Defense illustrating the incursion of Chinese armed forces aircraft into areas near Taiwan, April 21, 2024. (Photo source Taiwan Ministry of Defense)

This border, traditionally seen as a tacit border, has led to increasing violations by Chinese military assets, a trend that began to escalate significantly following the visit of former US Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan in August 2022. foothold in Taiwan in nearly three decades, leading to a sharp increase in military tensions.

According to reports from “Taiwan News”, the Chinese presence included advanced Shenyang J-16 fighter jets, Shaanxi Y-8 transport aircraft and several unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which began operations at 8:15 am on Sunday. This month alone, Taiwan has tracked Chinese military aircraft 193 times and naval ships 125 times.

The increase in such activities is part of China’s broader “gray zone” tactics, which involve a gradual increase in military presence around Taiwan, intended to put pressure on the island without sparking outright conflict. These tactics have become significantly more aggressive since September 2020.

In response to these provocations, Taiwan has mobilized its own air and naval forces and activated air defense missile systems to monitor and respond to the activities of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA Chinese Armed Forces). This continued military pressure underlines the fragile security situation in the Taiwan Strait, which remains one of the most sensitive geopolitical flashpoints in the Asia-Pacific region.

In early 2024, tensions between Taiwan and China remain high, mainly due to China’s dissatisfaction with political developments in Taiwan and continued pressure techniques, including military incursions near Taiwan.

Following Taiwan’s presidential election in January, Beijing has stepped up its efforts to pressure Taiwan’s newly elected President William Lai, using a variety of methods ranging from diplomatic and legal maneuvers to more coercive military actions. This strategy involves significant military activities, such as almost daily flights of Chinese military aircraft near or over the centerline of the Taiwan Strait, as well as maritime operations close to Taiwan’s waters.

In recent weeks there has been an increase in Chinese military activities around Taiwan. For example, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted 225 missions into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in one month, a noticeable increase in frequency that highlights continued military pressure from Beijing.

Taiwan has strengthened its defense capabilities in response, focusing on asymmetric war strategies aimed at making any potential military attack costly for the PLA. This includes extensive purchases of military equipment from the United States, improvements to missile systems, and reforms to the military draft and reserve systems.

Furthermore, in the broader geopolitical context, the actions and reactions surrounding Taiwan are also influenced by the United States, which continues to play an important role in the region by supporting Taiwan militarily and diplomatically.

Defense news April 2024