38 Chinese military jets enter Taiwan air defence zone

38 Chinese military jets enter Taiwan air defence zone
October 2, 2021, 8:44 am

military plane-Shutterstock

The BBC said, Taiwan has reported 38 Chinese military jets flying into its air defence zone on Friday - the largest incursion by Beijing to date.

The defence ministry said the planes, including nuclear-capable bombers, entered the area in two waves.

According to the BBC, Taiwan responded by scrambling its jets and deploying missile systems.

It mentioned, China sees democratic Taiwan as a breakaway province, but Taiwan sees itself as a sovereign state.

It added, Taiwan has been complaining for more than a year about repeated missions by China's air force near the island.

Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang told reporters on Saturday: "China has been wantonly engaged in military aggression, damaging regional peace."

The government in Beijing - which is marking 72 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China - has so far made no public comment.

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But it has previously said such flights were to protect its sovereignty and also targeted "collusion" between Taiwan and the US.

In a statement, Taiwan's defence ministry said 25 People's Liberation Army (PLA) planes entered the south-western part of the air defence identification zone (ADIZ) during daylight hours, flying near the Pratas Islands atoll.

An air defence identification zone is an area outside of a country's territory and national airspace - but where foreign aircraft are still identified, monitored, and controlled in the interest of national security.

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It is self-declared and technically remains international airspace.

This was followed by a second wave of 13 Chinese aircraft in the same area on Friday evening. They flew over waters between Taiwan and the Philippines.

The ministry said the Chinese aircraft included four H-6 bombers, which can carry nuclear weapons, as well as an anti-submarine aircraft.

Beijing often launches such missions to express displeasure at comments made by Taiwan.

It is not clear what prompted the latest mission.

Source: BBC

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