TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense on Monday evening released photos of PLA destroyers near Penghu, following a pattern of increased Chinese naval activity in the area in recent days. 

The ministry said that a formation of Chinese naval vessels, including Luyang II-class guided-missile destroyers and Jiangkai II-class guided-missile frigates, entered waters southwest of Penghu earlier in the day. The MND said forces were deployed to monitor the situation.

Earlier in the afternoon, Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) attended a Legislative Yuan committee meeting to discuss the special defense budget with lawmakers, per ETtoday. Speaking to reporters beforehand, he said the military’s warnings about growing threats were not unfounded.

He noted that several PLA warships had operated in waters southwest of Penghu in recent days, conducting drills in coordination with air assets. “We have integrated naval and air forces to maintain continuous, close surveillance and intelligence gathering,” he said.

Koo stressed that the threat is increasing and that defense budget planning, including new equipment procurement, is critical to safeguarding national security and the country’s survival. He urged the public to approach the issue rationally and seriously.

On Tuesday, the MND said it had tracked 22 Chinese military aircraft and nine naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Monday and 6 a.m. on Tuesday. Twenty of the aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern air defense identification zone.