Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has reported the detection of over 70 Chinese military aircraft and multiple naval vessels near its airspace and surrounding waters within the past 24 hours, signaling an intensification of military pressure from Beijing.
The alert comes just days after the British Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Spey sailed through the Taiwan Strait on June 18—a move Beijing condemned as a provocation.
According to Taiwan’s defense ministry, 50 Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels were observed by 6:00 a.m. local time Friday (22:00 GMT Thursday). An additional 24 aircraft, including fighters and drones, were detected later in the day, with 15 reportedly crossing the Taiwan Strait’s median line—a buffer zone long observed by both sides—during joint air-sea drills.
Taipei said its forces “monitored the situation and responded accordingly.”
China continues to claim Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve reunification. The self-ruled island, meanwhile, maintains a close security relationship with the United States, drawing repeated warnings from Beijing.
British Patrol Sparks Beijing’s Ire
Beijing reacted strongly to the passage of HMS Spey, accusing the UK of attempting to “stir up trouble.” China’s Eastern Theatre Command described the voyage as “public hyping,” and claimed Chinese forces monitored the vessel throughout its transit.
The British Royal Navy, however, described the sailing as routine and in full accordance with international law.
“The patrol was part of a long-planned deployment,” the UK said in a statement.
Western allies, including the U.S., UK, and Canada, consider the 180-kilometer-wide Taiwan Strait to be international waters, a stance repeatedly challenged by Beijing.
In recent months, the Taiwan Strait has seen increased military activity. In April, Taiwan reported 76 Chinese aircraft and 15 warships in one day, amid live-fire exercises simulating attacks on key infrastructure. The highest number of aircraft incursions to date—153—was recorded on October 15, 2024, following a speech by Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te on National Day.
Earlier this year, both U.S. and Canadian warships also transited the Strait, underscoring a growing push by Western democracies to assert freedom of navigation in the region.
