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.
- Han Kuang drills to last 10 days, 9 nights, focus on 'gray zone' tacticsThe live-fire portion of this year's Han Kuang military exercises will be twice as long as previous drills and have an added focus on China's "gray zone" tactics -- coercive actions that fall short of open conflict, a defense official said Tuesday.07/01/2025 07:40 PM
- Defense Ministry confirms Chinese tank landing ship in waters north of TaiwanThe Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Tuesday confirmed the presence of a Chinese Type 072A landing ship -- a large tank carrier used for amphibious warfare -- in waters off northern Taiwan.07/01/2025 05:37 PM
- Defense ministry estimates NT$30 billion annual cost of pay hikeAmendments to the Pay Act of the Armed Forces will cost an estimated NT$30 billion (US$1.03 billion) in additional annual personnel expenditure, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Tuesday.07/01/2025 05:29 PM
- Business
Stock trading accounts hit new high despite U.S. tariff concerns
07/02/2025 12:47 PM - Cross-Strait
Taiwan intelligence agency warns of RedNote, TikTok data breaches
07/02/2025 11:58 AM - Business
TSMC Arizona chairman to retire; no successor named yet
07/02/2025 11:12 AM - Business
U.S. dollar down in Taipei trading
07/02/2025 10:27 AM - Society
Taiwan headline news
07/02/2025 10:01 AM