Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) said it tracked a Chinese military chopper and three naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Wednesday (April 5) and 6 a.m. on Thursday (April 6).
According to the MND, one People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Ka-28 anti-submarine warfare helicopter entered the southwest corner of Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ). No PLA aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line during this time, Taiwan news reported. The sighting comes amid the Taiwan president's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
“One PLA aircraft and three PLAN (People’s Liberation Army Navy) vessels around Taiwan were detected by 6 am today,” Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence said in a statement, the Straits Times reported.
“Armed forces have monitored the situation and tasked CAP (combat air patrol) aircraft, navy vessels and land-based missile systems to respond to these activities,” it added.
Taiwanese Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said the aircraft carrier was 200 nautical miles (370km) off Taiwan’s east coast. China's foreign ministry in the meantime criticised Ing-wen meeting with McCarthy, Xinhua news agency reported.
“In response to the seriously erroneous acts of collusion between the United States and Taiwan, China will take resolute and effective measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the ministry said.
China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has pledged to reclaim it one day.
