Taiwan dispatched fighter jets and naval vessels on Tuesday after detecting a second Chinese “joint combat readiness patrol” near the island within a week, as tensions between Taipei and Beijing continued to escalate. Taiwan’s defence ministry said it tracked 21 Chinese military aircraft, including J-16 fighter jets and drones, operating around the island alongside Chinese warships.

According to Taiwan’s defence ministry, the Chinese military activity formed part of what Beijing described as a “joint combat readiness patrol.” Taiwan responded by deploying air and naval forces to monitor the situation and safeguard its surrounding airspace and waters. The latest operation comes amid growing concerns in Taipei over the increasing frequency of Chinese military movements near the self-governed island.

The patrol followed a similar Chinese military exercise conducted last Tuesday, just a day before Taiwan President Lai Ching-te completed two years in office. Beijing has repeatedly criticised Lai, labeling him a “separatist,” while rejecting his calls for dialogue. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has intensified military and political pressure on the island in recent years.

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Tensions have also risen in the South China Sea region. Over the weekend, Taiwan’s coast guard reportedly confronted a Chinese coast guard vessel near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands, a strategically significant area located at the northern edge of the South China Sea. The incident added to a broader pattern of maritime and military activity involving Chinese forces near Taiwan and surrounding waters.

Taiwan National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu said on social media that nearly 100 Chinese ships had been operating within the “first island chain,” a strategic zone stretching from Japan through Taiwan to the Philippines. Taiwanese officials view the growing Chinese presence in the region as part of sustained military pressure aimed at asserting Beijing’s territorial claims.

Taipei has reportedly remained on heightened alert following a recent meeting in Beijing between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, during which Taiwan was discussed. China continues to insist that Taiwan is part of its territory, while the democratically governed island maintains that its future should be decided by its own people.

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