Taiwan Reports 8 PLA Sorties, 5 PLAN Vessels as Two Cross Strait Median Line

Overview

• Taiwan’s defense ministry said two of eight Chinese aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait’s median line into the southwestern air-defense identification zone on Dec. 4, adding that its forces monitored and responded.
• In earlier updates this week, Taiwan reported nine PLA aircraft and 11 PLAN vessels with three crossings into the southwestern and eastern ADIZ, and on Dec. 2 logged nine aircraft, eight vessels and two official ships with one entry into the eastern ADIZ.
• The ministry has been issuing daily detections on X and repeatedly states the ROC Armed Forces are tracking the flights and patrols and taking responsive measures.
• On Nov. 7, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said a Chinese assault on Taiwan could constitute a situation threatening Japan’s survival, a designation that could open the door to Japanese military action, according to the Taipei Times.
• News18 reports China responded to Takaichi’s position with steps targeting Japan’s economy and messaging flashpoints, including travel and study warnings, a continued hold on seafood import resumptions, a now-deleted violent post by its Osaka consul, and criticism countered by former U.S. defense official Ely Ratner.