21 Chinese planes detected by Taiwan days after drills

This handout photo released by the Taiwan Presidential Office on May 20, 2024 shows Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te delivering his inaugural speech as military helicopters fly over after being sworn into office during the inauguration ceremony at the Presidential Office Building in Taipei. Agence France-Presse

TAIPEI — Taipei said Monday it had detected 21 Chinese military aircraft and 15 navy or coastguard vessels around Taiwan in the past 24 hours, days after Beijing encircled the island in a massive military drill.

China claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and says it will never renounce the use of force to bring it under Beijing’s control.

In a statement Monday, Taiwan’s defense ministry said 10 Chinese aircraft crossed the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the past 24 hours, and that it had responded appropriately.

READ: China holds military drills around Taiwan as ‘punishment’

Last Thursday Chinese warships and fighter jets encircled Taiwan in drills that Beijing said were a test of its ability to seize the island.

During the two-day drills, China vowed that “independence forces” would be left “with their heads broken and blood flowing”.

READ: China: Drills around Taiwan test ‘seizure of power’ capability

Beijing has in recent years upped military pressure on Taiwan, maintaining a near-daily presence of warplanes, drones and naval vessels around the island.

Experts say these are “grey zone tactics”, which stop short of outright acts of war but serve to exhaust Taipei’s military.

Taiwan’s new president said Sunday he was still ready to work with China, despite the military drills.

China said Lai Ching-te’s inaugural speech on Monday last week amounted to calls for independence, “pushing our compatriots in Taiwan into a perilous situation of war and danger”.