2025/09/29
Ministry of National Defense Issues Press Release Regarding “PLA Joint Combat Readiness Patrol”
Ministry of National Defense Press Release
Time: 1810 hours, September 29, 2025
The Ministry of National Defense stated today (September 29) that, starting at 1142 hours, a total of 20 sorties of various People’s Liberation Army (PLA) main and auxiliary aircraft, including J-16, JH-7, KJ-500, and drones, were detected operating off the Chinese coast, with 15 sorties crossing the median line and its extension, entering airspace off northern, central, and southwestern Taiwan, and coordinating with PLAN vessels to conduct harassment in Taiwan’s surrounding air and sea under the pretext of a so-called “joint combat readiness patrol.” The ROC Armed Forces employed joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance means to closely monitor the activities and dispatched mission aircraft, vessels, and shore-based missile systems to respond appropriately.