Taipei [Taiwan], December 10 (ANI): Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected seven sorties of Chinese military aircraft and six Chinese naval vessels operating around its territorial waters as of 6am (local time) on Wednesday.

Of the seven sorties, two crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ.

In a post on X, the MND said, '7 sorties of PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 2 out of 7 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded.'

https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1998558281623605280?s=20

Earlier on Tuesday, Taiwan detected eight sorties of Chinese aircraft and six vessels. Of the eight, two crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ.

In a post on X, MND said, '8 sorties of PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 2 out of 8 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded.'

https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1998195892927824246?s=20

Meanwhile, a former US defence official from the Joe Biden administration has expressed support for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi following her remarks indicating that Japan might assist in defending Taiwan, labelling Beijing's reaction as 'inappropriate', reported the Taipei Times. Ely Ratner, who was the assistant secretary of defence for Indo-Pacific security affairs from 2021 to this year, stated that Takaichi's comments about Taiwan merely echoed Japan's official stance on the matter.

On November 7, the Japanese Prime Minister mentioned during a parliamentary meeting that a Chinese assault on Taiwan could be considered 'a situation threatening Japan's survival', potentially leading to military action, according to the Taipei Times.

Takaichi is believed to be the first Japanese leader in decades to openly propose that a crisis in the Taiwan Strait could lead to Japan's military involvement.

Her statement provoked anger in China, which has implemented a range of retaliatory measures aimed at damaging Japan's economy, including issuing warnings against travel to and study in Japan and halting the resumption of Japanese seafood imports. Xue Jian, the Chinese consul general in Osaka, remarked in a now-deleted social media post that Takaichi should be 'decapitated'. (ANI)