TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND, 國防部) on Monday (Oct. 14) detected 25 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 7 People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels, and 4 official ships operating around Taiwan over the past 24 hours.
From 6 a.m. Sunday to 8 a.m. Monday, 16 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern and eastern ADIZ. The ministry emphasized that the military used mission aircraft, ships, and land-based missile systems to closely monitor and respond to these movements.
Following President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) remarks during the National Day celebration, where he reiterated that the People's Republic of China has no authority to represent the Republic of China, China launched the "Joint Sword-2024B" (聯合利劍-2024B) military exercise around Taiwan.
This exercise follows a similar two-day "Joint Sword-2024A" (聯合利劍-2024A) drill, conducted after Lai's inauguration. Li Xi (李熹), spokesman for the PLA Eastern Theater Command, stated earlier today that the military exercises involved multi-directional approaches to Taiwan island and joint assaults by various military branches.
The drills focused on sea and air combat readiness patrols, port and area blockades, sea and land strikes, and gaining comprehensive control, aiming to test the joint operational capabilities of the theater's forces. Taiwan's MND condemned these actions and vowed to respond accordingly in a social media post earlier that day.