41 Chinese PLA Aircraft and 9 Navy Vessels Observed: Taiwan's Defense Ministry
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Synopsis
Taiwan's Ministry of Defence reaffirmed the Taiwan Strait's status as a free navigation area, asserting China's lack of sovereignty. This follows China's objections to a Canadian warship's passage through the Strait, where 41 PLA aircraft and 9 PLAN vessels were detected.
Key Takeaways
- Taiwan Strait is a zone of freedom of navigation.
- China lacks sovereignty over the Strait.
- 41 PLA aircraft and 9 PLAN vessels were detected.
- Canadian warship HMCS Ottawa transited the Strait.
- Taiwan maintains control over surrounding airspace.
Taipei, Feb 17 (NationPress) The Ministry of Defence of Taiwan emphasized on Monday that the Taiwan Strait is a zone of freedom of navigation and that China holds no legitimate claim over its sovereignty. This statement followed China's objection regarding a Canadian warship's transit through the Taiwan Strait on Sunday.
"The Taiwan Strait is certainly not under the sovereignty of the People's Republic of China! The freedom of navigation exercised by like-minded nations affirms its legal status. China's military maneuvers against Taiwan and neighboring countries serve only to reinforce that China is the primary threat to regional peace and stability," Taiwan's Ministry of Defence stated on X.
As of 6 am today, a total of 41 PLA aircraft, 9 PLAN vessels, and 1 official ship were reported operating in proximity to Taiwan. Out of the 41 sorties, 28 crossed the median line, intruding into Taiwan's northern, central, and southwestern ADIZ. The situation has been closely monitored and appropriate responses were initiated," the post elaborated.
On Sunday, Taiwan identified 24 Chinese military aircraft while a Canadian warship traversed the Taiwan Strait. The Canadian frigate HMCS Ottawa made its passage through the Strait on Sunday morning, shortly after two US vessels had also navigated through.
As the Canadian frigate moved from south to north through the Taiwan Strait, the Taiwanese Armed Forces ensured comprehensive control over the surrounding maritime and aerial spaces, maintaining a normal situation.
"We welcome Canada's transit through the Taiwan Strait, marking its first passage in 2025 and the sixth since the initiation of its Indo-Pacific strategy. Regular transits through this critical international waterway signify the dedication of Taiwan's democratic allies to preserving the openness and freedom of this region," stated Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday afternoon.
Lin Chia-Lung, Taiwan's Foreign Minister, remarked that the security of the Taiwan Strait is a shared global understanding. The minister expressed gratitude to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japan's Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, and South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Tae-Yul for their advocacy of peace, stability, and Taiwan's international role.
Conversely, China, which asserts that the Taiwan Strait and Taiwan are integral parts of its territory, has expressed discontent regarding Canada's deployment of a warship through the Strait.
Beijing contends that it opposes any form of patrols in the Taiwan Strait, viewing them as a security threat.
In recent years, Beijing has escalated military exercises in the Taiwan Strait to increase pressures on Taiwan.
In contrast, Taiwan and its allies regard the Taiwan Strait as an international waterway, routinely deploying warships through the Strait to assert their influence in the Indo-Pacific and counter China's expanding reach.
