As the U.S. presidential election approaches, the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has released the latest movements of Chinese Communist military aircraft and vessels in the vicinity of Taiwan. From 6:00 a.m. on the 3rd until 6:00 a.m. today (4th), a total of 44 incidents of Chinese Communist military aircraft (including 37 instances crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entering the southwest and southeast airspace) and 6 Chinese Communist military vessels along with 1 public service vessel were detected continuing activities around the Taiwan Strait.
The 2024 U.S. presidential election is set to take place on November 5th with a fierce competition between Republican presidential candidate Trump (Donald Trump) and Democratic presidential candidate Harris (Kamala Harris). The outcome of the U.S. presidential election and its implications on U.S.-China strategic competition, the U.S.-China trade war, and the situation in the Taiwan Strait are closely watched globally.
Despite the ongoing election events, the Chinese Communist Party has shown no signs of backing down from the use of force against Taiwan. Today, the Ministry of National Defense announced the activities of Chinese Communist military aircraft in the area surrounding Taiwan, revealing that on the 3rd from 6:00 a.m. to 4:33 p.m., a total of 9 incidents of Chinese Communist main and assisting fighter aircraft and drones were detected in the Taiwan Strait airspace, with 2 instances of Chinese Communist aircraft crossing over the median line. From 9:27 a.m. to 8:32 p.m. on the 3rd, a total of 35 incidents of Chinese Communist main and assisting fighter aircraft and drones were spotted in the Taiwan Strait airspace. The military utilized airborne and coastal missile systems to closely monitor and respond to these activities.
President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, accompanied by the Secretary-General of the National Security Council Wu Zhaoxie, Minister of National Defense Gu Li-xiong, Admiral Tang Hua, and Mayor of Kaohsiung City Chen Chi-mai, visited the CSBC Corporation shipyard in Qijin District, Kaohsiung City this morning to host the “Air Defense Dragon Ceremony” for the navy’s light frigate. She emphasized that promoting the policy of building navy ships domestically not only safeguards national security and defends the people but also gradually improves the domestic shipbuilding industry and promotes economic development. The collective efforts to complete this shipbuilding mission will also enhance national defense capabilities.
On the Taiwan side, the Ministry of National Defense reported that from 6:00 a.m. on the 2nd to 6:00 a.m. on the 3rd, a total of 27 incidents of Chinese Communist military aircraft (including 14 instances crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entering the airspace of northern, central, southeast, and southwest Taiwan) and 6 Chinese Communist vessels along with 3 public service vessels were active in the vicinity of the Taiwan Strait.
Additionally, on the 2nd, from 6:29 p.m. to 9:46 p.m., 6 incidents of Chinese Communist main and assisting fighter aircraft were observed in the airspace of northern Taiwan. From 7:44 a.m. to 10:04 p.m., a total of 19 incidents of Chinese Communist main and assisting fighter aircraft and drones were detected in the Taiwan Strait airspace, with 12 instances of Chinese Communist aircraft crossing over the median line.
Moreover, on the 2nd, from 8:19 a.m. to 4:39 p.m., 2 incidents of Chinese Communist assisting fighter aircraft were monitored in the southwest and southeast airspace of Taiwan. The military employed airborne, naval, and coastal missile systems to diligently monitor and respond to these activities.
In an update on the afternoon of the 3rd, the Ministry of National Defense disclosed that starting from 9:00 a.m. that day, a total of 37 incidents of various types of Chinese Communist main and assisting fighter aircraft, including J-16, H-6, KJ-500, and drones, engaged in maritime activities. Among them, 35 instances crossed the median and extended lines, venturing into the southwest, southern, and southeastern airspace of Taiwan for “far-sea long-haul” training in the West Pacific. The military utilized joint intelligence monitoring measures to master these activities, dispatching airborne and naval assets as well as missile systems to respond appropriately.
On the 2nd, the Ministry of National Defense also reported that from 6:00 a.m. on the 1st to 6:00 a.m. on the 2nd, a total of 5 incidents of Chinese Communist aircraft (all crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entering the southwest airspace) were detected, along with 2 Chinese Communist vessels actively operating in the vicinity of the Taiwan Strait. The military disclosed the activities of Chinese Communist military aircraft in the area surrounding Taiwan, revealing that between 12:40 p.m. and 1:57 p.m., 5 incidents of Chinese Communist main fighter jets were spotted in the southwest airspace of Taiwan. The military closely monitored and responded to these activities using airborne, naval, and missile systems.
Furthermore, on the evening of the 2nd, the Ministry of National Defense indicated in a press release that starting from 6:20 p.m., a total of 20 incidents of various types of Chinese Communist main and assisting fighter aircraft, including Su-30 and KJ-500, along with drones, embarked on maritime activities. Among them, 11 instances crossed the median and extended lines, entering the airspace of northern, central, and southwestern Taiwan, combined with Chinese Communist vessels to conduct “joint combat readiness patrols.” The military employed joint intelligence monitoring means to closely monitor these activities and dispatched airborne and naval assets as well as missile systems to respond appropriately.