Taipei: Taiwan reported tracking 57 Chinese military aircraft and six naval ships around the Island on Friday, as tensions continue to simmer in the region. The island's defense ministry disclosed the detection of 57 sorties from the People's Liberation Army (PLA), along with six PLA Navy ships and four official ships in the vicinity of Taiwan.

According to Anadolu Agency, Taiwan's defense ministry highlighted that 38 of these 57 sorties breached the median line of the Taiwan Strait, penetrating Taiwan's northern, central, southwestern, and eastern Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). The Taiwanese armed forces have been actively monitoring the situation and responding to these developments as necessary.

In a related update, the ministry disclosed that on Thursday, it had identified 15 sorties of PLA aircraft, alongside seven PLAN ships and one official ship operating near Taiwan. Despite these escalations, there has been no immediate response from China regarding the recent military activities.

China views Taiwan as a 'breakaway province,' despite the island having governed itself independently since 1949. Beijing has consistently expressed its intention to reunify Taiwan with the mainland, even suggesting the use of force if deemed necessary.