TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND, 國防部) confirmed on Tuesday (Oct. 8) that China plans to launch a carrier rocket on its Double Tenth National Day, which will pass through Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
The MND reported detecting 12 Chinese aircraft since 6 a.m. on Oct. 7, with eight crossing the Taiwan Strait median line into the southwestern ADIZ. Also, seven People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels have been active around the Taiwan Strait, indicating increased military activity.
On Oct. 10, China will launch a rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center (西昌衛星發射中心). Its trajectory is set toward the West Pacific, passing through Taiwan's ADIZ. The MND assured that the military will closely monitor the situation using CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems.
The announcement has heightened tensions, as President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) delivered a speech at the National Day gala on Oct. 5 remarkeing that the People's Republic of China, which celebrated its 75th anniversary on Oct. 1, cannot be the "motherland" for the people of the Republic of China.
In his Oct. 5 speech, President Lai also urged citizens to remember the spirit of their predecessors, advocating for unity in defending national sovereignty and preserving democratic freedoms.