The West Australian exclusiveAustralian Navy confronted by Taiwan’s military during transit of sensitive waters near ChinaAndrew GreeneThe NightlySat, 21 February 2026 12:56PMCommentsCommentsEmail Andrew Greene
Taiwan’s Air Force has warned an Australian navy helicopter to leave sensitive airspace during an overnight maritime operation that saw an Anzac-class warship transit through heavily contested waters near China.
The MH-60R Seahawk helicopter had launched from HMAS Toowoomba on Friday as she began a transit of the Taiwan strait, as part of a regional presence deployment in the Indo-Pacific region.
According to Taiwanese military tracking websites, the Taiwanese Air Force issued a broadcast command to the Australian aircraft “to drive it away” as it entered the sensitive airspace while flying at an altitude of 2,000 feet.
The incident occurred just before 3pm local time on Friday (6pm AEDT) in a sensitive area situated along the median line of the Taiwan Strait and west of Penghu, an archipelago consisting of 90 islands and islets controlled by Taipei.
Local military observers say that as well as responding to frequent incursions by China’s People’s Liberation Army, Taiwan is also increasingly having to monitor the activities of international warships and aircraft.
Australia’s Defence Department has declined to comment on the overnight interaction with the Taiwanese military, but The Nightly has been told all interactions with foreign ships and aircraft during the deployment have been “safe and professional”.
China regularly criticises US and other allied countries for sending warships through the Taiwan strait, has not yet responded to the overnight operation conducted by HMAS Toowoomba.
In November 2023, HMAS Toowoomba also conducted a transit of the Taiwan strait prompting objections from the Chinese military, and last week Defence announced that HMAS Toowoomba had completed “a routine transit through the South China Sea”.
“The Australian Defence Force has a long history of operating in the South China Sea region; at sea, in the air, and on land. It remains a vital waterway for the entire international community,” Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones said.
“This routine deployment demonstrates our commitment to regional security, upholding a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo Pacific,” Admiral Jones added in a statement issued on February 12.
“Australian vessels and aircraft uphold international law during freedom of navigation and overflight, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.”
In September last year, the Hobart-class guided-missile destroyer HMAS Brisbane also conducted a “routine transit” through the Taiwan Strait alongside the Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Quebec.
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