Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) reported the presence of four Chinese naval vessels operating near its territorial waters as of 6 a.m. local time on Tuesday. However, in a departure from recent patterns, no Chinese military aircraft were detected in the region during the same period.
In a statement shared on social media platform X, the MND confirmed the detection of the four vessels, adding that no flight path illustration was provided due to the absence of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft in the area. A similar development was observed a day earlier, when six Chinese naval ships were reported near Taiwan, again with no accompanying aircraft activity.
The latest maritime movements come amid heightened cross-strait tensions, especially after China’s controversial launch of the W121 flight corridor, an extension of the disputed M503 route. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has strongly opposed the new route, urging Beijing to enter immediate talks and accusing China of violating cross-strait understandings and aviation safety norms.
According to Taiwan, the unilateral move undermines international aviation protocols. Under the rules set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), any air route changes must involve consultation with all affected airspace authorities—a step Taiwan claims Beijing has bypassed.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office defended the decision, stating that the W121 route is intended to ease air traffic congestion and improve safety for travelers. However, Taiwanese officials argue that China’s international flight volumes remain below pre-pandemic levels and that the W121 route does not benefit cross-strait travel.
Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration has also condemned the move as “regrettable,” vowing to closely monitor the airspace. Authorities warned that any aircraft entering Taiwan’s Flight Information Region without coordination would be intercepted or rerouted, following ICAO protocols and Taiwan’s own national security guidelines.
As naval and aviation tensions continue to escalate, Taiwan remains on high alert, emphasizing its commitment to safeguarding regional stability and airspace sovereignty.
