The Chinese military has continued sending warplanes and warships toward Taiwan this week after the unprecedented action over the weekend in which 103 jets approached the island, 40 of which crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait and into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). On Tuesday, 55 Chinese military, or People’s Liberation Army (PLA), flew towards Taiwan with 27 crossing into Taiwan’s ADIZ. On Thursday, 20 PLA jets approached Taiwan with 10 entering the ADIZ. Nine Chinese warships were also detected near Taiwan Sunday and seven on Thursday. While Chinese aircraft and naval vessels have been operating near Taiwan in an aggressive manner for months, it is the number of planes involved this week that is raising tensions in the region yet again. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry issued a statement saying, “We urge the Beijing authorities to bear responsibility and immediately stop such kind of destructive military activities.”
