• Taiwan has detected 50 Chinese military aircraft around the island.
• The military sightings occurred shortly after a British naval vessel transited the Taiwan Strait.
• China continues to ramp up military presence near Taiwan, claiming sovereignty.
• 15 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait during joint training exercises.
• This marks a significant increase in military activity, following similar incidents in recent months.

Taiwan's defense ministry reported on Friday that the island has detected 50 Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels in the vicinity. This increased military activity from China follows the recent passage of the British naval vessel HMS Spey through the Taiwan Strait, a move that Beijing condemned as a provocation. The sightings were recorded during a 24-hour period leading up to 6:00 am local time (2200 GMT Thursday) and have raised alarms regarding territorial security, as Taiwan purposely monitors these incursions and responds accordingly to safeguard its airspace, according to Indiatimes and Channel News Asia.

In addition to the initial 50 aircraft, an additional 24 Chinese aircraft, which included both fighters and drones, were detected shortly thereafter. Notably, among these, 15 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait for joint training exercises with the naval vessels, highlighting China’s ongoing military presence and readiness in the region. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense is taking this situation seriously, continuously tracking and responding to developments in the area, as reported by Channel News Asia, Al Jazeera, and Indiatimes.

The context of these military activities is framed by China's declaration of Taiwan as part of its territory, even threatening military action to enforce this claim. This assertion of sovereignty is fervently rejected by Taiwan, which has accused Beijing of employing tactics such as cyberattacks and disinformation alongside military maneuvers to undermine its defenses. With an escalation in military presence noted recently — including a record number of Chinese aircraft detected at 153 during previous military exercises — the situation remains tense between the two entities, according to Al Jazeera and Indiatimes.