DEFENSE/19 PLA aircraft cross Taiwan Strait median line or extension: Ministry

Taipei, June 13 (CNA) A total of 19 People's Liberation Army (PLA)  aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait or its extension in the 24 hours starting at 6 a.m. Wednesday, one of which flew as close as 39 nautical miles from Taiwan's east coast, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said.

Twenty-three Chinese military aircraft were detected in the vicinity of Taiwan, of which 15 crossed the median line and four crossed its extension, entering the country's eastern and southwestern air defense identification zone (ADIZ), information released Thursday by the MND showed.

Of the four aircraft, one drone was detected just 39 nautical miles from the eastern county of Hualien, the information showed.

An ADIZ is a self-declared area, in which a country claims the right to identify, locate, and control approaching foreign aircraft but is not part of its territorial airspace as defined by international law.

Meanwhile, seven People's Liberation Army vessels were detected in waters off Taiwan during that same period.

The MND said it was closely monitoring the situation and deployed combat air patrol aircraft, coastal missile systems, and Navy vessels in response.