On Saturday, March 28, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) reported the detection of 15 sorties from Chinese military aircraft as of 11:21 AM local time. Among these, 11 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, entering various regions of Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), including the northern, central, southwestern, and eastern areas.

The aircraft types included J-10, J-16, and KJ-500, among others. In a statement posted on X, the MND indicated that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft participated in air-sea joint training exercises alongside naval vessels of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The Republic of China (ROC) Armed Forces reported that they were monitoring the situation and responding as necessary.

Earlier Military Activity Recorded

Earlier the same day, at approximately 6 AM local time, Taiwan detected an additional presence of 13 Chinese military aircraft along with seven naval vessels and two official ships operating in proximity to its territorial waters. Of these 13 sorties, nine also crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s southwestern and eastern ADIZ, as noted by the MND. The Armed Forces of the ROC took appropriate measures to monitor this ongoing military activity.

Historical Context of Taiwan-China Relations

The situation between Taiwan and China is complex, based on a mixture of historical, political, and legal claims. Beijing asserts that Taiwan is an integral part of its territory, a stance that is reinforced by domestic legislation and international assertions. Conversely, Taiwan operates as a distinctly separate entity with its own government, military, and economic systems. This status contributes to ongoing international discussions around principles such as sovereignty and self-determination as well as non-interference in international law.

Historical Claims to Territory

The origins of China’s claim to Taiwan trace back to the Qing Dynasty, which annexed the island in 1683 after vanquishing Ming loyalist Koxinga. Despite this annexation, Taiwan was governed only loosely by the Qing. A pivotal change occurred in 1895 when Taiwan was ceded to Japan following the First Sino-Japanese War, establishing a 50-year period of Japanese colonial rule. Following Japan’s defeat in World War II, Taiwan was returned to Chinese sovereignty, although the transfer of sovereignty was never formalized.

Post-Civil War Division between China and Taiwan

The outcome of the Chinese Civil War in 1949 led to the formation of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on the mainland, while the Republic of China (ROC) retreated to Taiwan. Each government continues to assert its claim over all of China, resulting in a complex situation of dual sovereignty: the PRC governing the mainland and the ROC governing Taiwan. Although Taiwan functions as a de facto independent state, it has refrained from declaring formal independence, a move that could provoke military aggression from the PRC.

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