DEFENSE/82 Chinese warplanes, ships deployed near Taiwan during drills Wednesday: MND
Taipei, April 3 (CNA) China dispatched 82 warplanes and vessels to areas near Taiwan on Wednesday, the last day of its most recent military exercises in the region, according to Taiwan's defense ministry.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) sent 59 planes into Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ), 18 of which crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, while 13 others crossed its extension, a flight map released by Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) showed.
The incursions began at 6:10 a.m. Wednesday and continued until 8:10 p.m., according to the MND information.
Wednesday's drills, codenamed Strait Thunder 2025-A, were a continuation of China's latest round of military exercise that started the previous day, which the PLA Eastern Theater Command said were meant as "a stern warning" to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.
During Wednesday's drills, 23 Chinese warships and eight official ships were also detected in waters around Taiwan, according to the MND.
On Tuesday afternoon, China's Maritime Safety Administration announced the closure of a shipping zone near Zhejiang Province, citing "military activity."
At a press conference Wednesday, the MND confirmed that the PLA had been carrying out live-fire drills in the East China Sea that morning.
The latest round of Chinese military exercises in the area began Tuesday and ended Wednesday night.
- Taiwan, U.S. quiet over latest transit by U.S. warship through StraitThe United States and Taiwan have been unusually quiet over the most recent passage of an American Navy warship through the Taiwan Strait that began late Tuesday evening, Taiwan time.04/24/2025 09:07 PM
- 62 military personnel hold Chinese 'residence permit': MinisterSixty-two active-duty military officers and soldiers currently hold a residence permit issued by the Chinese government and cannot do jobs related to collecting intelligence and confidential data, Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said Wednesday.04/16/2025 06:33 PM
- PLA exercises meant to show strength amid military purges: NSB chiefChina's latest round of military exercises near Taiwan at the beginning of April was intended to show it could organize large-scale drills despite an ongoing military purge, Taiwan's top intelligence chief said Wednesday.04/09/2025 04:47 PM
- Sports
Taiwan's judoka settles for silver at Asian championships
04/25/2025 10:11 PM - Society
Court detains KMT official in recall petition forgery case
04/25/2025 08:49 PM - Cross-Strait
MOHW defends medical tourism program amid dental clinic probe
04/25/2025 08:41 PM - Society
Supreme Court rejects appeal by EVA Airways over 2019 strike
04/25/2025 06:26 PM - Politics
Ex-Vice President Chen pays respects to Pope Francis in Vatican
04/25/2025 06:02 PM