Taiwan Monitors Chinese Military Surge Amid NATO Summit

Taiwan's defence ministry is vigilantly observing Chinese military movements, including drills by the Shandong aircraft carrier, coinciding with a NATO summit in Washington. The surge involves 66 Chinese warplanes, with significant maneuvers south and southeast of Taiwan. China's activities have drawn NATO's scrutiny, highlighting geopolitical tensions.

Taiwan's defence ministry announced on Thursday that it is closely monitoring Chinese military movements following a significant increase in warplanes joining drills with China's Shandong aircraft carrier, coinciding with the NATO summit in Washington. Taiwan, considered by China as its territory, has faced persistent Chinese military pressure over the past four years aimed at enforcing Beijing's sovereignty claims over the democratically-governed island.

The Shandong passed near the Philippines en route to Pacific exercises, according to Taiwan's defence minister on Wednesday. Over the past 24 hours, Taiwan detected 66 Chinese aircraft operating around the island, with 39 heading south and southeast, joining the Shandong for drills. Taiwan's defence ministry shared images of a Chinese J-16 fighter and an H-6 bomber, captured recently but without specific details on the location or timing.

Ministry spokesperson Sun Li-fang assured that Taiwan's military maintains detailed surveillance over sea and air activities around the Taiwan Strait, including those involving the Shandong. The ministry stated that Taiwan's forces successfully tracked the photographed warplanes. China's defence ministry has not commented on the Shandong's operations. Meanwhile, NATO leaders meeting in Washington have highlighted China's role in Russia's war efforts in Ukraine, labeling Beijing as a systemic challenge to European security. The Chinese mission to the EU dismissed the summit's communique as provocative and filled with incitements and unfounded claims.

(With inputs from agencies.)