Taiwan detects 13 Chinese aircraft, 6 vessels; 11 cross median line

Taiwan's military detected 13 Chinese aircraft and 6 naval vessels near its waters on Wednesday, with 11 crossing the sensitive median line. This follows similar incursions on Tuesday, amid rising regional tensions involving Japan and Korea.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected 13 sorties of Chinese military aircraft and six Chinese naval vessels operating around its territorial waters as of 6am (local time) on Wednesday.

As per the MND, of the 13, 11 crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. In a post on X, the MND said, "13 sorties of PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 11 out of 13 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded." 13 sorties of PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 11 out of 13 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded. pic.twitter.com/VHQKwoiciw — 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, ROC(Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) February 4, 2026

Continued Chinese Military Activity

Earlier on Tuesday, Taiwan detected two sorties of Chinese military aircraft and six Chinese naval vessels. Both sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ.

In a post on X, the MND said, "2 sorties of PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 2 out of 2 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded." 2 sorties of PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 2 out of 2 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded. pic.twitter.com/FQDQCn6D4c — 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, ROC(Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) February 3, 2026

Regional Security Developments

Meanwhile, South Korea and Japan have agreed to resume their bilateral naval search-and-rescue exercise for the first time in nine years as part of efforts to promote military exchange, Seoul's defence ministry said, according to the country's state media. The meeting between the two US allies comes amid growing security threats from China and North Korea.

Japan-China Tensions

Ties between Tokyo and Beijing had also deteriorated since late last year following Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks in which she suggested that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could be considered a "survival-threatening situation", which would permit Japan to take military action.

Beijing's Stance on Taiwan

Beijing considers Taiwan as its own territory and maintains its right to take control of the island one day, including by force.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Taiwan is an integral and indivisible part of China, which has been separated from the mainland since 1949.

Under its "one country, two systems", achieving China's complete reunification is a shared aspiration of all Chinese people, both within the country and abroad. The Communist Party of China and the Chinese government regard the fulfilment of this goal of peaceful reunification as a historic mission and have been working persistently toward it. (ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)