Chinese Military Patrol Near Taiwan

Taiwan reported renewed Chinese military activity on Friday, with another “combat patrol” near its airspace. The Taiwanese government has urged Beijing not to escalate tensions following the seizure of a Taiwanese fishing boat earlier this week.

Incident Overview

On Tuesday, Chinese officials detained a Taiwanese fishing boat for allegedly operating illegally in Chinese waters. A senior Taiwan official suggested this action could be a form of psychological warfare. Taiwan’s defence ministry noted the detection of 26 Chinese military aircraft, including J-16 fighters, conducting a “joint combat readiness patrol” with Chinese warships starting just before 7 a.m. (2300 GMT) on Friday. These aircraft flew into airspace in the north, centre, and southern parts of Taiwan. Since the beginning of the month, Taiwan has detected at least 127 Chinese military aircraft operating near the island.

Taiwan’s Response

China’s defence ministry has not responded to requests for comment. Meanwhile, Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai advised fishermen to remain alert and avoid illegal activities. He also called on China to avoid excessive measures that could escalate tensions and lead to unnecessary confrontations. “This can easily cause tension and unnecessary confrontation which is extremely unnecessary,” he remarked.

Background on Tensions

China views Taiwan as part of its territory and has increased its military and political pressure on the island over the past four years. China attributes the root cause of its issues with Taiwan to what it perceives as the “separatist” views of Taiwan’s new President, Lai Ching-te. Beijing conducted war games shortly after Lai took office in May and has ignored his calls for dialogue.

With Inputs from Reuters