Taiwan scrambles jets amid reports of Chinese craft in the region

The Taiwanese government on Friday said it was readying its military to respond to potential incursions by Chinese forces in the region.

The country’s Ministry of National Defense said in a tweet that “11 [People’s Liberation Army] aircraft and 3 [People’s Liberation Army Navy] vessels” were detected “around Taiwan” in the early morning hours. 

“[Republic of China] Armed Forces have monitored the situation and tasked [combat air patrol] aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond these activities,” the ministry said. 

Taiwan is officially known as the Republic of China; it remains the only sovereign territory under that title following the loss of mainland China to communist forces after World War II. 

Chinese Communist Party forces have long indicated an intend to re-annex Taiwan and bring it back under the auspices of the CCP.