Taiwan Will Attack PLA Ships and Aircraft If They Enter The 12 Nautical Mile Zone

Taiwan has reaffirmed its determination to attack Chinese warships and aircraft if they come within 12 nautical miles of the island.

The Taiwan Defense Ministry's Combat Planning Chief, Maj. Gen. Lin Wen-huang, made the point Tuesday.

Taiwan's Ministry of Defense regularly reports on the activity of warships and aircraft of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) near Taiwan.

On Saturday, eight Chinese military planes crossed the so-called "median line" of the Taiwan Strait and were sighted 24 nautical miles from the island.

"If the PLA side continues to ignore our warnings along the way and force its way into our territorial air and sea space,

We will actively counterattack to safeguard national security," Lin was quoted as saying by Taiwanese media.

The report added that this was the first time in six months that Chinese warplanes had approached the island.

Taiwan has been governed independently of the mainland since 1949.

Beijing regards the island as its province, while Taiwan maintains that it is an autonomous entity but has stopped short of declaring independence.

Beijing opposes any official foreign contact with Taipei and considers China's sovereignty over the island unassailable.

The most recent escalation around Taiwan came in April after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Beijing responded by launching massive three-day military drills near the island as a warning to Taiwan separatists and foreign powers.