Taiwanese aircraft tail Chinese bombers on flight around island

Taiwan’s air force scrambled aircraft on Friday as mainland Chinese bombers flew around the self-ruled island, just a few hours after Taiwan vowed not to be cowed having lost another diplomatic ally amid growing pressure from Beijing.

Taiwan is China’s most sensitive territorial issue and a potential dangerous military flashpoint. Beijing claims the island as its territory and has vowed not to allow any attempts at what it views as Taiwanese separatism.

Tension between democratic Taiwan and its big neighbour has increased in recent months, with Beijing suspicious that the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen wants to push for the island’s formal independence.

Tsai, who took office in 2016, says she wants to maintain the status quo, but will protect Taiwan’s security and not be bullied by Beijing.

In the latest flight by People’s Liberation Army aircraft around Taiwan, two H-6 bombers passed through the Bashi Channel which separates Taiwan from the Philippines in the early hours of Friday and then rounded Taiwan via Japan’s Miyako Strait, to Taiwan’s northeast, the island’s defence ministry said.

Taiwanese aircraft accompanied and monitored the mainland’s bombers throughout, the ministry said, describing the PLA aircraft as being on a long-range training mission.