Taiwan tracked eight Chinese aircraft and eight naval vessels near its territory this morning. The country’s defence ministry said three of the aircraft entered Taiwan’s south-western Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). According to media reports, since September 2020, China has intensified its use of grey zone tactics by increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships operating near Taiwan.
So far in June, Taiwan has detected Chinese military aircraft near its territory over 132 times and naval vessels more than 109 times. In a separate development, the Philippines has stepped up patrols in the disputed South China Sea ahead of the rollout of a new Chinese regulation that empowers its coast guard to detain foreigners accused of trespassing. The regulation, which is effective from Saturday, marks a further escalation in tensions in the fiercely contested waterway, which is one of the world’s most economically important and busiest trading routes.
