China sends four sorties near Taiwan

Taiwan’s defence ministry said on Monday it detected four Chinese military aircraft sorties and six naval vessels operating near the island in the previous 24 hours. Three of the four sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s southwestern and southeastern air defence identification zone, according to the ministry’s daily tally. Taiwan said it responded by deploying aircraft, naval ships and coastal missile systems. The activity extended a second straight day of reported Chinese military presence around Taiwan. The numbers were smaller than in some previous episodes, but the pattern matched Taiwan’s regular reports of Chinese aircraft and ships operating near the island. Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claim, while China says Taiwan is part of its territory. (taiwannews.com.tw) ### Which Chinese moves did Taiwan report this time? Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said the four aircraft sorties and six naval vessels were detected up to 6 a.m. local time on Sunday. Three sorties crossed the median line, a once-unofficial buffer in the Taiwan Strait that Chinese forces now cross regularly. Taiwan did not identify the aircraft types in the daily summary cited by local media. (taiwannews.com.tw) Taiwan News, citing the ministry, said Taiwan had tracked Chinese military aircraft 190 times and ships 180 times so far in May. Those running monthly totals underscored how frequently Taipei now publishes such daily updates. ### Why are the Pratas Islands part of the same story? Taiwan’s coast guard said on Sunday that a Chinese coast guard ship left waters near the Pratas Islands after a tense standoff and verbal exchanges between the two sides. (taiwannews.com.tw) Reuters reported the encounter lasted for a second day near the Taiwan-controlled islands at the top of the South China Sea. Dongsha, also known as the Pratas Islands, sits well south of Taiwan proper but is administered by Taipei. The coast guard confrontation showed that the pressure around Taiwan is not limited to the Taiwan Strait and can also involve law-enforcement vessels in the South China Sea. ### What does Hainan have to do with patrols near Taiwan? (usnews.com) The South China Morning Post reported on May 24 that China’s naval complex at Sanya, on Hainan island, is increasingly seen by mainland analysts as important to the survivability of the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s aircraft carriers. The report said the base gives Chinese warships more room to maneuver and helps counter U.S. pressure along the so-called first island chain. (cnbc.com) That assessment did not refer directly to Monday’s four sorties, but it added context to how Chinese analysts are discussing military posture across the wider region. The same debate links operations near Taiwan with naval positioning deeper in the South China Sea. ### What role are U.S. arms sales playing? (scmp.com) The Hill reported this week that Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said the Pentagon had paused a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan because of a munitions review tied to the Trump administration’s war with Iran. The report said the statement cut across broader administration messaging on both Iran and Taiwan. (scmp.com) The Hill also reported earlier this month that lawmakers from both parties pressed President Donald Trump to move ahead with the Taiwan package before his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Taiwan has repeatedly said U.S. arms support is central to its defence planning. ### What happens next? (thehill.com) Taiwan’s defence ministry is expected to continue issuing its daily morning updates on Chinese aircraft and naval activity around the island. Taiwan’s coast guard and defence ministry have also continued to publish separate statements on activity near the Pratas Islands and in surrounding waters. In Washington, the next concrete milestone is the fate of the delayed $14 billion U.S. arms package referenced by Hung Cao and congressional Democrats. (thehill.com) In the region, the next official data point will be Taiwan’s next 24-hour military activity report. (thehill.com) (taiwannews.com.tw)