TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 21 Chinese military aircraft, 11 naval vessels, and four coast guard ships around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Sunday (May 26) and 6 a.m. on Monday (May 27). 

Of the 21 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 10 entered the southwest and southeast sectors of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND. No PLA aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line during that time. 

In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor the PLA activity. 

So far this month, Taiwan has tracked Chinese military aircraft 387 times and naval/coast guard vessels 223 times. China carried out military exercises around Taiwan on Thursday (May 23) and Friday (May 24) in the waters and airspace around Taiwan.

During China’s “Joint Sword-2024A” drills, Beijing sent 111 Chinese military aircraft and 53 naval ships around Taiwan. The MND said the exercises were an “irrational provocation” and sent naval, air, and ground forces to respond.