Taiwan’s defence ministry reported five Chinese naval vessels and nine official ships operating around Taiwan in its October 18 bulletin. The figures cover the twenty-four hours from 6 a.m. on October 17 to 6 a.m. on October 18, Taiwan time. The ministry listed the naval vessels and official ships separately, rather than identifying all fourteen vessels as warships. It also reported two Chinese aircraft sorties. Both crossed the Taiwan Strait’s median line and entered northern and central areas, according to the bulletin. Taiwan’s armed forces used mission aircraft, ships and coastal missile systems to monitor and respond to the activity, the ministry said. The written statement did not name the vessels, specify their individual missions or describe an exchange of fire. This entry reports the ministry’s account of that observation period; the detections have not been independently verified here. The bulletin provides no basis for inferring a new military escalation.
Taiwan Observer / Journal