TAIPEI, Taiwan — China sent 74 warplanes toward Taiwan between late Thursday and early Friday, 61 of which crossed the central line in the Taiwan Strait that unofficially divides the sides, an unusually large number as tensions remained heightened in the region.

It wasn’t clear why so many planes were scrambled between late Thursday and early Friday, as tabulated by Taiwan’s Defense Ministry. The planes were sent in two separate tranches, it added.

China considers Taiwan its own territory and uses such deployments to advertise its threat to encircle and possibly invade the self-governing island. China also hopes to intimidate Taiwan’s population of 23 million and wear down its equipment and the morale of its armed forces.

On Thursday, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs “confirmed and welcomed” the transit of the British Royal Navy’s off-shore patrol craft HMS Spey through the Taiwan Strait a day earlier. The ship’s transit, the ministry said, “once again (reaffirmed the Strait’s) status as international waters.”

“Such transits by the U.K. and other like-minded countries are encouraged to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the Foreign Ministry said.

Britain’s representative office in Taipei said in a statement that the Spey had conducted a navigation of the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law and rights provided under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“Wherever the Royal Navy operates, it does so in full compliance with international law and exercises its right to Freedom of Navigation and overflight,” the statement added.

China responded angrily, saying the Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army “organized troops to monitor and guard the entire process and effectively responded and dealt with it.”

The British ship’s action “deliberately disturbed the situation and undermined the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait,” the Eastern Theater Command said in a statement.

The bustling Taiwan Strait lies in international waters, but China objects to any transit or activity within it by foreign military vessels.

It wasn’t clear if the large number of Chinese warplanes sent on Thursday and Friday were related to the earlier sailing of the British ship.

Six military ships accompanied the Chinese planes, which ranged from drones to fighter jets and early warning and other support aircraft. Taiwan deployed ships, fighter interceptors and land-based missile systems in response.

The British patrol ship HMS Spey, seen here near the Malay Peninsula in April 2025, passed through the Taiwan Strait on June 18, 2025. (British navy)

A British patrol ship passed through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, less than a week after a Japanese destroyer made a similar trip through the contentious waterway.

The offshore patrol vessel HMS Spey carried out the passage as part of a freedom-of-navigation operation that was welcomed by Taiwan, according to a Thursday statement from the self-governing, democratic island.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs encourages like-minded countries such as the United Kingdom to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region, and maintain a rules-based international order,” the statement said.

Beijing denounced the Spey’s passage as a “publicly hyped” stunt.

“The relevant remarks from the British side distorted the legal principles and confused the public,” China’s Eastern Theater Command said Friday on the social media platform Weibo. “Its actions deliberately disturbed the situation and undermined the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait.”

China views Taiwan as breakaway province that must be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary. Beijing regularly condemns the passage of U.S. and allied warships through the 110-mile-wide channel that separates the two.

Meanwhile, The Associated Press reported Friday that China flew “an usually large number” of warplanes toward Taiwan between late Thursday and early Friday. Sixty-one of the 74 aircraft crossed the unofficial center line dividing the Taiwan Strait.

The Spey’s transit follows the June 12 passage of the Japanese destroyer JS Takanami through the Taiwan Strait. The vessel spent more than 10 hours sailing south from the East China Sea to the South China Sea, Kyodo News reported Friday.

Kyodo, citing anonymous diplomatic sources, reported that the Chinese military monitored the Takanami’s entire passage. As of Friday afternoon, China had not publicly commented on the matter.

Spokespeople for Japan’s Defense Ministry and Maritime Self-Defense Force declined to comment Friday, citing operational security.

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani also declined to comment during a regular news conference Friday in Tokyo, saying the matter was “related to the operation of the Self-Defense Forces,” according to a video posted on the ministry’s website.

The Takanami’s trip marks the third time a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel passed through the Taiwan Strait. In September, the destroyer JS Sazanami became the first Japanese warship to make the passage. In February, the destroyer JS Akizuki followed suit.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer JS Takanami, seen here amid a replenishment-at-sea in 2022, passed through the Taiwan Strait on June 12, 2025. (Canadian Armed Forces)

The transits come amid rising regional tensions.

On June 7, a Chinese Shenyang J-15 fighter shadowed a Japanese P-3C patrol plane for 40 minutes. The following day, a similar scenario occurred for 80 minutes. The fighters came within 150 feet of the patrol aircraft in both instances, according to a June 11 news release from the Japanese defense ministry.

The J-15 was flying from the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong, which on June 9 entered Japan’s exclusive economic zone near Okinotorishima. Meanwhile, the Chinese carrier Liaoning was operating in Japanese EEZ near Minamitorishima, Japan’s Joint Staff said at the time.

It was the first known instance of both Chinese carriers operating simultaneously in the Pacific.

China deployed 74 warplanes near Taiwan, with 61 crossing the unofficial dividing line, amid heightened tensions following a British naval transit through the Strait.

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Recent military maneuvers have escalated tensions in the Taiwan Strait, with China sending 74 warplanes toward Taiwan between late Thursday and early Friday. This significant deployment, which included 61 aircraft crossing the central line, raises concerns about regional stability and security.

6 Key Takeaways China deployed 74 warplanes near Taiwan.

61 planes crossed the Taiwan Strait’s central line.

Taiwan welcomed British Royal Navy’s HMS Spey.

China criticized foreign military transits in Strait.

Taiwan responded with military readiness and monitoring.

Tensions remain high in the region.

On June 20, 2025, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported these unusual military activities, which were likely intended to intimidate the island’s population of 23 million. The situation is further complicated by the British Royal Navy’s recent transit through the Taiwan Strait, which China condemned as a provocation.

Fast Answer: China’s recent military actions in the Taiwan Strait highlight escalating tensions, while international naval transits emphasize the complex geopolitical landscape in the region.

The juxtaposition of military posturing and international naval activity raises critical questions about the future of peace in the Taiwan Strait. How will Taiwan respond to these provocations? Will international allies increase their presence to deter aggression?

China’s military exercises aim to demonstrate its claims over Taiwan.

The British Royal Navy’s transit underscores international support for Taiwan.

Regional security remains fragile amid rising tensions.

The situation in the Taiwan Strait poses a significant risk of conflict, affecting global trade routes and international relations.

As the dynamics in the Taiwan Strait evolve, it is crucial for the international community to remain vigilant and supportive of peaceful resolutions to ensure stability in the region.