Amidst growing tensions on the international stage, Vice President Lai Ching-Te’s return to Taiwan from a diplomatic mission in Paraguay, one of Taiwan’s valued South American allies, captured global attention.

Blinken Expresses Concern Over China’s “Provocative Actions” in the Taiwan Strait The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China made a significant show of force, deploying an astonishing fleet of 45 warplanes and nine warships near Taiwan’s borders within a 24-hour timeframe.

The Ministry of National Defence (MND) promptly confirmed this unsettling development, which unfolded from 6 am on Saturday to 6 am on Sunday.

Of particular concern was the audacious crossing of the unofficial median line in the Taiwan Strait by 25 of these warplanes.

The MND unveiled the flight paths of these intruding aircraft, revealing that they included nine Su-30 fighter jets, four J-11s, and twelve J-10s.

The USS Chung-Hoon observes a Chinese navy ship conduct what it called an “unsafe” Chinese maneuver in the Taiwan Strait, on June 3, 2023 (Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Andre T. Richard/U.S. Navy via AP)

Adding to the gravity of the situation, a Y-9 electronic warfare aircraft and a Z-9 anti-submarine helicopter were detected venturing into the southwestern sector of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ).

It is important to note that the ADIZ serves as a critical buffer for identifying and managing foreign aircraft but falls outside the scope of territorial airspace, in accordance with international law.

While the exact locations of the nine PLA warships remain undisclosed, images released by the Military News Agency showcased Taiwan’s Navy frigates, known as Tian Dan guided-missile vessels, closely monitoring China’s Xuzhou frigate.

The situation took a more ominous turn when the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command organized joint air and sea patrols, along with robust navy and air force exercises in close proximity to Taiwan. This has raised concerns and added further complexity to an already delicate geopolitical situation.