9 Chinese Warplanes Breach Taiwan’s Airspace; Japan Voices Security Concern
Nine Chinese military aircraft violated Taiwan’s airspace on Sunday, prompting a defensive military response. Japan raised concerns over regional stability.
Tensions in the Indo-Pacific escalated Sunday as Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported that nine Chinese military aircraft intruded into its airspace, out of a broader fleet that included 11 aircraft, 7 naval vessels, and 1 government ship near Taiwan.
In response, Taiwan scrambled fighter jets, deployed warships, and activated its coastal missile defense systems.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te accused Beijing of using military intimidation as a means to force reunification. "This coercion will not succeed—even if governments change," he stated, reaffirming Taiwan’s democratic resolve.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned China’s continued use of military maneuvers and pretexts, warning it poses risks to both regional and global security.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa expressed serious concern over China’s military activities. During a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit, Kamikawa emphasized that “peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are essential for the entire international community.”
She reiterated Japan’s opposition to any unilateral change to the status quo through force.
The developments mark yet another flashpoint in rising geopolitical friction in East Asia, as the Taiwan Strait increasingly becomes a theater of strategic contest between democratic allies and an increasingly assertive Beijing.