The presence of China and Russia in the vicinity of Taiwan Island is worrisome

Based on open source intelligence (OSINT) releases, local media in Taiwan have spread the presence of air and naval assets from the People’s Republic of China as a sort of call to action. However, reports of incursions by People’s Republic of China Air Force (PLAAF) fighters and Russian Navy ships are alarming events for the island’s authorities.

As a graphic and numerical example of what’s happening around the island, Taiwan news reports that a total of 109 military aircraft of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) violated Taiwan’s ADIZ in April, a 12.8% decrease from 125. Ministry of National Defense (MND) in May.

Already in June, the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong It was detected southwest of Taiwan on the 21st. On the same day, the MND announced that it had tracked 19 Chinese military aircraft and five warships between June 20 and 21. A few days later, the Taiwanese military detected 19 Chinese military aircraft, including Chengdu J-10 and Shenyang J-16 fighters. Of these 19 flights, eight crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and approached the contiguous area of ​​Taiwan, located 24 nautical miles from the country’s coast.

Also at the end of June Two Russian Steregushchiy class frigates were spotted. A fact that came to the attention of Ministry of Defense officials due to their proximity from territorial waters. According to the Russian news agency Interfax, this group of ships from the Russian Pacific Fleet entered the southern parts of the Philippine Sea to carry out missions within the framework of a long-distance maritime mission.

In any case, this fact should not be isolated. The meeting between the Chinese Defense Minister took place today. Li Shang Fuand head of the Russian army, Nikolai Yevmenov, In Beijing he left as his main message a possible reconciliation between the two countries at the naval level. It is also mentioned in the press document released by China about the thought of the Chinese minister “Regular organization of joint exercises, ships and military skill competitions”as well as “Expanding practical cooperation in professional fields”.

The approximate total number of PLAAF types in the Taiwan ADIZ from 2018 to 2023 has reached 3,955.

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