Taiwan detects hike in Chinese activity around itself

Taipei [Taiwan], January 29 (ANI): Taiwan stated that it detected six Chinese military aircraft and five naval vessels around Taiwan from 6 am (local time) on Tuesday till 6 am (local time) on Wednesday.

Of the six Chinese military aircraft, three crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and Southwestern ADIZ.

In a post on X, the Taiwanese MND said, "6 PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC 8) today. 3 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and Southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly."

Notably, Chinese activity has risen around Taiwan.

On Tuesday, Taiwan reported six Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels around itself.

Taiwanese MND said that their armed forces monitored the situation and responded accordingly.

https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1884043723245310195

This incident follows a recent pattern of escalated manoeuvres by China around Taiwan, raising concerns over regional stability as Beijing continues to assert its claims over the island.

Earlier on Saturday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has raised concerns over Beijing's coercion against Taiwan during a phone call with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, Focus Taiwan reported, citing the US Department of State.

According to Focus Taiwan, Rubio emphasized the United States' "commitment to our allies in the region and serious concern over China's coercive actions against Taiwan and in the South China Sea," said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce in a readout following the phone call on Friday (Washington time).

Bruce also quoted Rubio as stating that the US will pursue a relationship with Beijing that "advances US interests and puts the American people first."

This was Rubio's first phone call as Secretary of State with Wang, who is also the director of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee's Foreign Affairs Commission. (ANI)

(The story has come from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by the Tribune Staff.)