Defense Ministry Monitors PLA 'Joint Combat Readiness Patrols'

According to the Central News Agency, PLA aircraft and naval vessels conducted 'joint combat readiness patrols' yesterday, encroaching on Taiwan's sea and air space. Colonel Pan Chun-kuang of the Ministry of National Defense stated today that the military is effectively monitoring the situation through joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). He added that the ministry will continue to release information in a timely manner, balancing military security with the public's right to know. The Ministry of National Defense announced last night that a total of 21 PLA aircraft, including J-10s, J-16s, KJ-500s, and drones, were detected. Of these, 16 crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, central, southwestern, and eastern air defense identification zones. The ministry also released footage of an Air Force F-16 monitoring a PLA YU-20 tanker and a Navy Kunming-class frigate monitoring the PLA destroyer Yinchuan.