Chinese warplanes continue Taiwan operations as island says farewell to former president Lee Teng-hui
- Mainland Chinese observers say the flights are a political warning that US and Taiwan should cease ‘provocations’
- Mission coincides with visit of US undersecretary Keith Krach, who attended the funeral of the island’s former leader on Saturday
Chinese fighter jets and bombers approached Taiwan for the second day on Saturday as a senior US official wrapped up his trip to the island and paid tribute to its former president Lee Teng-hui.
Chinese military observers described the move as a political declaration and warning that no place on the island was safe.
Taiwan said 19 Chinese aircraft, including two H-6 strategic bombers, crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait and entered its southwest air defence identification zone.
Taiwan’s air force scrambled fighters and deployed air defence missile systems to monitor their activities, the island’s defence ministry said.
On Friday, it said 18 Chinese aircraft had approached from four directions and entered its air space.
Hong Yuan, a military analyst with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said China’s military exercise was not just a drill but also a warning.