Chinese warship and Taiwan jet clash in radio encounter

Chinese military pressure around Taiwan intensified again this week after a People’s Liberation Army Navy warship used politically charged language during a radio exchange with a Taiwanese aircraft, prompting a firm response from Taiwan’s Air Force and drawing widespread attention online.

According to reporting by Taiwanese media and recordings shared by the long-running military monitoring page Taiwan ADIZ, a Chinese Type 054A frigate, the Yixing (hull number 537), operating under the PLA Eastern Theater Command, broadcast a warning to a Taiwanese military aircraft while operating near Taiwan’s surrounding waters.

In the radio transmission, the Chinese warship addressed the aircraft using Beijing’s preferred political phrasing, stating: “China Taiwan aircraft, I am Yixing warship. You are approaching me and threatening my safety. Immediately turn away and leave.” The wording, particularly the phrase “China Taiwan,” is widely viewed in Taiwan as an attempt to assert sovereignty claims through operational communications.

Taiwan’s Air Force pilot responded directly and formally over the same frequency. “I am a Republic of China military aircraft, conducting training in the airspace. Do not interfere with my operations,” the pilot said, according to the recorded exchange.

The exchange was documented by Taiwan ADIZ, which regularly tracks Chinese naval and air activity around Taiwan using open-source monitoring and radio intercepts. As noted by the page, encounters of this kind have become increasingly routine as Chinese warships and aircraft operate near the median line of the Taiwan Strait and within Taiwan’s air defense identification zone.

During the exchange, an additional unidentified voice was heard on the channel reacting to the Chinese phrasing. In one recording, a background voice audibly questioned the terminology, saying “Taiwan???” in a tone suggesting confusion or disbelief at the Chinese designation.

In a separate radio clip involving the same Chinese frigate, another unidentified voice was captured responding more bluntly after the warship again used the phrase “China Taiwan.” The voice said clearly in Mandarin with a Taiwanese accent: “That’s nonsense.” The source of the transmission was not identified and could have originated from a nearby civilian vessel or another radio user monitoring the frequency.

Taiwanese media reported that the five-word retort quickly spread across social media platforms and military enthusiast forums, where it was widely shared as an example of public frustration with Beijing’s language and behavior. However, no official Taiwanese military unit has claimed responsibility for the remark, and authorities have not attributed it to any service member.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has repeatedly stated that its forces maintain strict professionalism during encounters with the PLA. The Air Force and Navy routinely issue standardized radio warnings and responses during interactions with Chinese platforms, emphasizing freedom of navigation and Taiwan’s operational rights in surrounding airspace and waters.

The Type 054A frigate involved in the incident is a modern multirole surface combatant operated by the Chinese navy, typically tasked with escort missions, air defense, and regional patrols. Vessels of this class regularly participate in operations around Taiwan as part of China’s sustained pressure campaign.