Taiwan detects dozens of Chinese aircraft near island after UK ship patrol

In the last 24 hours, Taiwan’s defense ministry reported that it had seen more than 70 Chinese military aircraft flying through the island, just as a British naval vessel passed through the troubled Taiwan Strait.

Beijing has been using fighter jets and naval vessels to further Taiwan’s claim to be the island’s sovereignship in recent months, which Taipei rejects.

Six Chinese naval vessels were discovered in the 24 hours to 6am on Friday (22:00 GMT on Thursday), according to the defense ministry.

The ministry reported in a separate statement that an additional 24 Chinese aircraft, including fighters and drones, had been spotted since Friday at 8:50 am (00:50 GMT).

According to the ministry, 15 of the second batch of aircraft “monitored the situation and responded accordingly” by flying over the Taiwan Strait’s median line while conducting air-sea joint training with Chinese naval vessels.

Taiwan, which is a democratic, self-governing nation, is a part of China’s territory, and it has threatened to use force to take it under its control. Beijing is enraged that Taiwan has allied itself with the US.

The most recent incursions occurred on June 18 when the HMS Spey, a patrol ship for the British Royal Navy, passed through Taiwan Strait, according to the foreign ministry.

China scolded Britain’s most recent action as a blatant “cause trouble” attempt.

The patrol vessel’s routine navigation, according to Britain’s Royal Navy, took place in full compliance with international law as part of a long-planned deployment.

The ship’s Wednesday sailing was “public hyping,” according to the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theatre Command, and its forces followed and monitored the Spey.

The 180-kilometer (112-mile) Taiwan Strait is considered to be open water for all vessels in the eyes of the UK, the US, and other nations.

A US destroyer and US ocean survey ship made their way through the Strait in February, but a Canadian warship did the same.

The HMS Richmond, a frigate deployed with Britain’s aircraft carrier strike group, sailed through Japan to Vietnam in 2021, the last time a British Navy ship traversed the Taiwan Strait.

When Beijing conducted live-fire exercises that included simulated strikes against the island’s key ports and energy sites, Taiwan detected 76 Chinese aircraft and 15 naval vessels around the island in April.