Overview

• Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected 59 Chinese aircraft, nine warships, and two balloons near its territory in the past 24 hours, marking one of the largest deployments in recent months.
• China's military drills, described as 'punishment' for Taiwanese President William Lai's promotion of separatism, included joint combat patrols and crossings of the Taiwan Strait's median line.
• Beijing cited Taiwanese President Lai's labeling of China as a 'foreign hostile force' and U.S. policy changes as provocations justifying its actions.
• Taiwan has responded by deploying aircraft, navy ships, and coastal missile defenses to monitor and counter Chinese military activities.
• The Taiwan Strait remains a critical international waterway for global trade, with international actors closely observing the escalating tensions.