Taipei’s Defence Ministry reported detecting 45 Chinese military aircraft operating around Taiwan, marking the highest single-day number this year. This comes less than a week before Taiwan inaugurates its new President, Lai Ching-te, whom China regards as a “dangerous separatist.”
Beijing, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has escalated military pressure on the island, maintaining a near-daily presence of warplanes, drones, and naval vessels around its periphery. The recent surge in Chinese military activity underscores rising tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Despite calls for restraint, China’s continuous military maneuvers heighten security concerns in the region.