Taiwan on Tuesday grounded 29 Chinese planes in its air defense area to warn, including bombers, that flew south of the island and into the Pacific, the latest escalation in tensions and late May. Biggest intrusion since.
Taiwan, which China claims as its territory, has complained of repeated missions over the past two years near the democratically-ruled island by the Chinese Air Force, often in the southwestern part of its air defense identification zone. , or closer to the ADIZ. Taiwan controlled Pratas Islands.
Taiwan calls China’s repeated military activities “grey zone” warfare, designed to repeatedly scuffle Taiwanese forces and test Taiwanese responses.
Taiwan’s defense ministry said the latest Chinese mission involved 17 fighter aircraft and six H-6 bombers, as well as electronic warfare, early warning, anti-submarine and an aerial refueling aircraft.
According to the map provided by the ministry, some of the planes took off in an area northeast of Pratas.
However, the bombers, accompanied by electronic warfare and an intelligence-gathering aircraft, flew over the Bashi Channel, which separates Taiwan from the Philippines and the Pacific, before turning back to China on the route they had taken.
The ministry, using standard wording for its response, said Taiwan sent fighter jets to warn Chinese planes while missile systems were deployed to monitor them.
It was the largest incursion since Taiwan reported 30 Chinese aircraft into its ADIZ on 30 May. The biggest infiltration so far this year took place on January 23, involving 39 aircraft.
There was no immediate comment from China, which has said in the past that such moves were exercises aimed at protecting the country’s sovereignty.
China on Friday launched its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, named after the province opposite Taiwan.
China’s military said last month it conducted an exercise around Taiwan as a “serious warning” against its “collusion” with the United States.
It came as US President Joe Biden angered China by saying the United States would join militarily if China invaded the island, prompting a change in US policy of “strategic ambiguity” on Taiwan.
China has increased pressure on Taiwan to accept its sovereignty claims. The Taipei government says it wants peace but will defend itself if attacked.
No shots have been fired and Chinese aircraft are not flying over Taiwan’s airspace, but in its ADIZ, an extensive area Taiwan monitors and patrols to give it more time to respond to any threats. works.
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