Air Force
Taiwan: 29 Chinese aircraft detected, 22 crossing the median line, in a new “joint combat readiness patrol”
Taiwan's defence ministry says 29 Chinese aircraft and drones went out to sea on 12 November, 22 of them crossing the median line, in a so-called joint combat readiness patrol.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said on 12 November 2026 that it had detected 29 Chinese military aircraft and drones going out to sea from 09:38 local time, 22 of them crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait and its extension, in what the ministry called a so-called “joint combat readiness patrol”. The statement was issued at 14:20.
According to the ministry, the aircraft included J-10, J-16 and JH-7 fighters and fighter-bombers, KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft, Y-20 tankers and drones. It said they entered Taiwan’s northern, central, south-western and eastern air space, operating together with Chinese Navy vessels, and described the activity as harassment of the island’s surrounding air and sea space.
Taiwan’s response
The ministry said the armed forces followed the movements closely with joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance means, and sent aircraft, ships and shore-based missile systems to respond “appropriately”. Its statement gives no number for the Chinese ships involved, and the aircraft count covers the period from 09:38 only, so the daily total may be higher.
A recurring pattern
The ministry uses the term for coordinated Chinese aircraft and ship activity around the island. Geopolitiki reported the previous one on 4 November, when the ministry counted 14 aircraft with 12 crossing the line: Taiwan: 14 Chinese aircraft detected, 12 crossing the median line, in a new “joint combat readiness patrol”. On 2 November the ministry had reported 22 aircraft with 18 crossing: Taiwan reports 22 Chinese military aircraft, 18 crossing the median line, in another “joint combat readiness patrol”.
Today’s figures, 29 aircraft and 22 crossings, are higher than in both of those statements.
The account above rests on the Taiwanese ministry’s statement alone. No Chinese statement on the activity was read for this article, and the ministry’s fuller daily report for 12 November was not yet available in the material read.
