China intensifies Military presence near Taiwan amid rising tensions
China has intensified its military presence near Taiwan, with Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence detecting multiple sorties of Chinese aircraft and naval vessels around its territory. The situation has been closely monitored by Taiwan's armed forces, reflecting heightened tensions in the region.
Taipei [Taiwan], May 11 (ANI): Taiwan detected five sorties of Chinese aircraft, nine Chinese naval vessels and one official ship operating around its territory as of Sunday 6am (local time), as per Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence.
The MND said that they monitored the situation and responded accordingly.
In a post on X, Taiwan's MND said, "5 sorties of PLA aircraft, 9 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly."
Earlier on Friday, Taiwan's MND said that seven sorties of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, eight People's Liberation Army Naval (PLAN) vessels and one official ship were detected operating around Taiwan.
Out of the seven sorties, four crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ.
In a post on X, Taiwan's MND stated, "7 sorties of PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 4 out of 7 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southeastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly."
Taiwan's Council of Indigenous Peoples has criticised a former legislator for echoing "United Front" slogans during an event in China, asserting that Taiwan's indigenous peoples are not "descendants of the Yellow Emperor," Taipei Times reported.
The council emphasised that any exchanges involving indigenous communities must be based on mutual respect and equality, without promoting political agendas.
The controversy centres around former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislator and National Dong Hwa University professor Yosi Takun, who recently attended an event hosted by China's Yunnan Minzu University. During the event, a banner proclaiming "Both sides of the Strait share the same ancestry, Zhonghua spirit, and are one big family" was prominently displayed.
Taiwan's Council of Indigenous Peoples rejected this narrative, reaffirming that Taiwan's indigenous peoples are of Austronesian descent, not of Chinese lineage.
"Taiwan's indigenous peoples are not descendants of the Yellow Emperor," the council declared, adding that these communities are culturally and linguistically linked to the Austronesian family, not the Sino-Tibetan language family. The council criticised Yosi's remarks at the event, where he described minority cultures as an "important part of Chinese civilisation." (ANI)