TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 49 Chinese military aircraft on the first day of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) exercises around Taiwan between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday (May 23).

Of the 49 PLA aircraft, 35 crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the northern, central, and southwest sectors of the country’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ). Seven Chinese fighter planes were monitored in the northeastern portion of the ADIZ, while seven stayed on the Chinese side of the median line. 

The MND said the PLA aircraft included Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets, Shenyang J-16 fighter planes, and KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft. They were carrying out joint exercises with Chinese warships as part of Beijing’s “Joint Sword-2024A” exercise around Taiwan. 

In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor the PLA military drills. China announced on Thursday morning that it would be holding two days of military exercises around Taiwan until Friday (May 24). 

President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) administration condemned the Chinese drills and said they threatened regional peace and stability. 

“In the face of external challenges and threats, we will continue to defend democracy,” said Presidential Office Spokesperson Kuo Ya-hui (郭雅慧). 

So far this month, Taiwan has tracked Chinese military aircraft 297 times. Since September 2020, Beijing has increased its use of gray zone tactics by incrementally increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships operating around Taiwan.