China has been carrying out extensive air and naval military drills near Taiwan, further heightening tensions in the already unstable region.

On Sunday, the Ministry of National Defense, ROC (Taiwan) said, “13 PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN vessels and 2 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 am (UTC+8) today. 11 out of 13 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, southwestern and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded.”

‘People’s Liberation Army (PLA) activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan’ was detected by Taiwan between March 16 and 18.

According to Taiwan, “59 sorties of Chinese military aircraft and nine Chinese naval ships operating around Taiwan were detected on March 18 morning.”

It said that 43 out of 59 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s northern, central southwestern and eastern Air Defence Identification Zone.

The ministry stated that the Taiwan Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed Combat Air Patrol aircraft, navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities of Chinese forces.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s first-ever ‘immediate combat response’ drills entered the second day on March 18, with the Army simulating anti-landing combat to keep Chinese forces from reaching Taipei, the country’s capital and main economic and political hub, local media reported.

The Chinese Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council issued a stern warning to Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te on March 17, stating that Taiwan’s provocative actions against the Chinese mainland could lead to self-destruction. This statement followed after the Chinese army conducted military exercises near the Taiwan Strait on the same day, Chinese media reported.

China, on the other hand, justified the actions saying that the related military activities taken by China around the Taiwan Strait are “necessary, lawful, and justified measures to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity”.

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