Taiwan MND: 2 Chinese aircraft sorties, both crossing the median line, and 5 PLA Navy ships around the island on 18 October

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) said on 18 October that it detected two sorties by aircraft of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), five PLA Navy ships and nine “official ships” around the island in the 24 hours to 6 a.m. that day, Taiwan time.

According to the ministry’s daily report, which covers the period from 6 a.m. on 17 October, both aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ) in the northern and central sectors. The MND did not report any balloons in this period.

The ministry said Taiwan’s armed forces monitored the activity and responded with combat air patrol aircraft, navy ships and coastal missile systems. The report is Taiwan’s account of the activity; it carries no comment from Beijing on the movements.

The figures are lower than the previous reporting period. In its report for 6 a.m. on 16 October to 6 a.m. on 17 October, the MND counted nine PLA aircraft sorties, five of which crossed the median line, together with six PLA Navy ships and eight official ships. Geopolitiki reported the preceding day’s count here: Taiwan MND: 8 Chinese aircraft sorties, all crossing the median line, and 9 PLA Navy ships around the island on 16 October.

The MND publishes these counts every day under the heading “PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan”, with maps of the air and maritime activity attached to each report. The reports do not describe the purpose of individual movements.

The original reports are on the Taiwan MND website.