HONG KONG, December 18. /TASS/. Taiwan’s armed forces have detected the approach of 15 Chinese aircraft and 13 vessels near the island, the Defense Ministry said on its official page on the social network X.

It reported that 15 PLA aircraft, 9 PLA Navy ships, and four other Chinese vessels approached the island, all of which were identified before 6 a.m. on Wednesday.

"Two aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s southwestern and eastern air defense zones. We have been monitoring the situation and responded accordingly," the ministry stated.

Taiwan has been governed by an independent administration since 1949, when the remnants of the Kuomintang forces, led by Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975), fled there following their defeat in the Chinese Civil War. Beijing considers Taiwan one of its provinces.