December 13, 2025 | Taipei, Taiwan
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China has continued its frequent military activities in the air and maritime areas surrounding Taiwan, making such pressure a near-daily occurrence. In response, Taiwan’s armed forces have maintained a high level of vigilance, conducting continuous surveillance and issuing standard radio warnings to safeguard national security. However, a recent radio exchange in the Taiwan Strait has drawn public attention after highlighting increasingly assertive rhetoric from a Chinese naval vessel.
According to records shared by the military monitoring platform Taiwan ADIZ, a PLA Navy Type 054A frigate, the Yixing (hull number 537), under the Eastern Theater Command, was operating near the Taiwan Strait in recent days when it initiated a radio call toward a Taiwanese military aircraft conducting a routine mission. During the transmission, the Chinese vessel referred to Taiwan using politically charged language and ordered the aircraft to alter course and move away, claiming the aircraft posed a threat to the ship’s safety.
In response, a pilot of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Air Force issued a firm and measured reply, clearly identifying the aircraft as a Taiwanese military asset and stating that it was lawfully conducting training operations within the designated airspace. The pilot further requested that the Chinese vessel refrain from interfering, underscoring Taiwan’s position on defending its airspace while adhering to established operational protocols.
During the exchange, the radio channel reportedly captured an unidentified voice expressing confusion over the terminology used by the Chinese vessel. In a separate recording from the same incident, another unidentified transmission—believed to have originated from a civilian vessel or another radio user in the vicinity—was heard delivering a blunt rebuke after the Chinese ship repeated its earlier wording. While the source of the transmission remains unconfirmed, the remark quickly circulated online and sparked widespread discussion among military observers and the public.
Defense analysts note that PLA naval vessels have increasingly conducted routine operations near the median line of the Taiwan Strait, often employing standardized radio communications aimed at asserting pressure on Taiwan’s air and naval forces. Despite these actions, Taiwan’s military continues to respond in a professional and restrained manner, maintaining its positions and emphasizing its commitment to protecting sovereignty and preserving stability in the region.