China sends 12 military aircraft and six warships around Taiwan over National Day

China sent 12 military aircraft sorties and six navy ships to operate around Taiwan over the 24 hours that spanned the island's National Day, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said on 11 October, as People's Liberation Army activity carried on through the holiday weekend.

In its daily update, the ministry said that between 6am on 10 October and 6am on 11 October, local time, it detected 12 sorties by Chinese military aircraft, six PLA Navy vessels and three Chinese government ships operating around the Taiwan Strait. Five of the aircraft entered Taiwan's southwestern air defence identification zone.

Taiwan's armed forces used mission aircraft, navy ships and shore-based missile systems to monitor the activity closely and respond to it, the ministry said.

Two waves on the day of the celebrations

According to the ministry's map of the flights, as reported by Newtalk, the Chinese aircraft came in two waves on 10 October. Seven main combat aircraft and drones flew between 7:05am and 2:35pm, while five support aircraft and drones operated from 8:20am to 8pm local time, all five of them entering the southwestern zone.

The Liberty Times reported that the five support aircraft and drones crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait on their way into the southwestern zone, while the seven combat aircraft and drones were active in airspace to the west of Taiwan.

The flights coincided with the National Day ceremony in Taipei, where President Lai Ching-te delivered his annual address. The armed forces staged an air parade of nine aircraft types from all three services, ending with the air force's Thunder Tigers aerobatic team flying five Brave Eagle jet trainers over the Presidential Office trailing red, blue and white smoke. TaiSounds noted that Chinese military aircraft and ships had not let up on the day of the ceremony.

A lighter count than on the eve

The latest numbers were lower than in the previous reporting period. On 10 October the ministry said it had tracked 21 Chinese military aircraft sorties, seven navy ships and two government ships in the 24 hours to 6am that day, with 13 of the aircraft crossing the median line into Taiwan's northern, central and southwestern air defence zones.

Newtalk said the figures showed the PLA had kept up its presence around the Taiwan Strait throughout the National Day long weekend, which ended on 11 October.

The ministry publishes these counts each morning for the 24 hours to 6am, along with a map showing where the Chinese aircraft flew, and has repeated that the armed forces keep a close watch on PLA air and naval activity around the strait and respond as appropriate.