Taiwan locks Chinese aircraft and warships in its sights
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense on Monday confirmed that its armed forces closely monitored Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels operating near the island, releasing imagery showing Taiwa
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense on Monday confirmed that its armed forces closely monitored Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels operating near the island, releasing imagery showing Taiwanese F-16V fighters tracking People’s Liberation Army aircraft during ongoing Chinese drills.
In a briefing held at 4:45 p.m. local time, the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of China (Taiwan) said it had publicly released images ahead of the press conference to demonstrate real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance activity as China abruptly announced the “Justice Mission-2025” exercise and warned of live-fire drills.
According to the ministry, Taiwan Air Force F-16V fighters were observed monitoring PLA Air Force J-16 multirole fighters using onboard targeting and reconnaissance systems. The images show Chinese aircraft being tracked at close range as they conducted operations near Taiwan’s airspace during what Taipei described as provocative maneuvers.
The ministry also disclosed that Taiwan Navy surface combatants were monitoring Chinese naval movements. Officials said a Cheng Kung–class frigate, the ROCS Tien Tan, tracked a PLA Navy vessel identified as the Anyang while both ships operated in nearby waters.
As noted by the Ministry of National Defense, the F-16V fighters were equipped with the AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod, known locally as the “Sniper” pod. The system allows long-range air-to-air reconnaissance and precision tracking without triggering an adversary aircraft’s radar warning receiver.
Taiwan’s military previously demonstrated the same capability during the Joint Sword-2024A exercise last year, according to defense officials. The ministry said the pod’s air-to-air surveillance range can reach up to 187 kilometers, enabling continuous monitoring of PLA aircraft movements from a distance.
In addition to fighter activity, Taiwan’s military said it was also able to track the flight of a PLA Air Force Shaanxi KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft operating in the region. The ministry did not provide further technical details on the tracking method but said the activity showed comprehensive situational awareness across air and maritime domains.
The release of imagery followed China’s announcement of large-scale drills around Taiwan and warnings that live-fire exercises would begin the following day. Taiwanese officials said the armed forces activated standard monitoring and response procedures and maintained joint sea and air operations across all services.
Taiwan’s defense authorities emphasized that the publication of the images was intended to show the public that the military is maintaining awareness of developments around the island. Officials said the armed forces remain on alert and continue to coordinate with the coast guard and other agencies to track PLA movements.
China routinely conducts air and naval operations around Taiwan, but the ministry said the timing of the imagery release was tied directly to the current round of exercises and the announcement of live-fire activity by the PLA.
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