2023/04/10
The Ministry of National Defense issues a press release to explain "the trends and developments of CCP aircraft and warships as it persistently carried out military exercises around the Taiwan Strait as of 1800 hours" (April 10, 2023)
Press release of the Ministry of National Defense
Time: April 10, 2023 at 21:00
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) stated today (10th) that the Eastern Theater Command of the CCP continued to carry out military exercises around Taiwan, and CCP aircraft and warship formations crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait from the north, center, and south today. As of 18:00, the MND had detected a total of 91sorties of CCP aircraft of various kinds, including Su-30 MKI, Shenyang J-10, Shenyang J-11, Shenyang J-15, Shenyang J-16, Xian H-6, Xian Y-20, Shaanxi Y-8, Shaanxi Y-9, and Air Warning KJ-500, of which 54 sorties (including a J-15 on a Shandong aircraft carrier) crossed the median line and entered the southwest airspace. The Armed Forces adopted mission aircraft, warships, and shore-mounted air defense and anti-vessel missile systems to closely monitor and respond to the situation.
The MND emphasizes that though the Eastern Theater Command of the CCP announced the exercise, the Armed Forces will not stop its efforts to strengthen combat readiness, and will closely monitor the developments of the CCP around the Taiwan Strait and seek intelligence about the dynamics and trends of the PLA’s Rocket Force, ground long-range artillery force, and formation of Shandong aircraft carriers. All combat readiness units are on rotation, and observation, communication, and reconnaissance personnel shall stick to their posts, stay alert, and respond accordingly.