Chinese PLA J-16 fighter jet took off at an undisclosed location. China flew more than 30 military aircraft toward Taiwan on Saturday, October 2, 2021, the second major show of force in as many days.
China on Saturday flew more than 30 military planes toward Taiwan, the second major show of force in as many days.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said the 39 planes flew over Taiwan’s air defense detection area twice, one during the day and one at night. A similar pattern was followed on Friday when 38 planes took off over the south of the self-governing island.
China claims Taiwan, which is located on its eastern coast, as its territory. The two parted ways in 1949 during a civil war in which the Communists took control of mainland China and rival Nationalists established a government in Taiwan. The Communist Party celebrated the 72nd anniversary of its rule on Friday.
Taiwan’s Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang spoke out on Saturday against flights on the first day.
“China has always taken cruel and barbaric actions to endanger regional peace,” he said while attending the opening ceremony of a science park in southern Taiwan.
China has been sending military planes to the south of Taiwan on a continuous basis for more than a year. Taiwan’s Central News Agency said Friday and Saturday had 38 and 39 aircraft, the most in a day since Taiwan began issuing reports on flights.
The Defense Ministry said 20 aircraft took part in the day flights on Saturday and another 19 in the night. It identified most of them as J-17 and SU-30 fighter jets.
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