Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense has registered an increase in Chinese military activities around it on Wednesday morning. As of 6 a.m. (local time), 10 PLA fighter jets, 6 PLAN naval vessels and 2 government vessels were spotted near Taiwan, according to the ministry. Out of these, 4 Chinese planes crossed the median line and entered the northern ADIZ of Taiwan. The ministry said that Taiwan has monitored the situation and provided the necessary response.
On Tuesday, Taiwan reported the activity of 9 Chinese aircraft, 8 naval ships and 2 government ships, one of which entered Taiwan’s eastern ADIZ. Meanwhile, former US defense official Eli Ratner has supported Japanese Prime Minister Sane Takaichi’s statement regarding possible military assistance in Taiwan’s security. Ratner said Takaichi’s statements were in line with official Japanese policy.
Takaichi told parliament on November 7 that an attack on Taiwan by China would pose a “threat to Japan’s survival status” and that Japan’s military intervention would be possible. China was outraged by this statement and began taking measures targeting Japan’s economy—such as travel/education warnings and a ban on Japanese seafood imports. Meanwhile, China’s Consul General in Osaka, Xue Jian, posted a threatening comment on social media like “beheading” Takaichi, which was later removed.