Taiwan's Armed Forces reported 14 planes and five Chinese ships approaching the island

Taiwan's Armed Forces (AF) reported the approach of 14 aircraft and five ships of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). At least 12 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which separates the island from mainland China, in the process.

"14 PLA aircraft and five PLA Navy ships operating around Taiwan were detected before [1:00 Moscow time] today. 12 aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern and eastern air defense zones," a statement on the agency's X (former Twitter) page said.

It is specified that the Taiwanese authorities were monitoring the situation and were able to respond to the incident in a timely manner.

Earlier, on January 12, the Taiwanese armed forces recorded eight planes and six PLA vessels. It is specified that seven aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern air defense zone.

On December 20, 2024, it was reported that the U.S. State Department approved the possible sale of a military communications system and related equipment to Taipei's economic and cultural representative office in the United States at an estimated cost of $265 million. At the same time, current U.S. President Joe Biden ordered $571 million in military aid to Taiwan.

The conflict between China and Taiwan escalated after former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island in August 2022. The Chinese side considers Taiwan its territory, so it views visits to the island by officials from other countries as support for Taiwan's independence.

Official relations between the PRC government and its island province broke down in 1949 when the Kuomintang forces led by Chiang Kai-shek, who lost in a civil war with the Communist Party of China, moved to Taiwan. Contacts between the island and mainland China resumed in the late 1980s. The U.S. openly supports the Taiwanese authorities.