How the Chinese military’s show of strength towards Taiwan highlights increased ability to target key bases

Name: Taiwan denounces mainland China for ‘over the top’ flights into island’s air defence zone
Uploaded: 2021-10-10T06:00:14.000Z
Description: Taiwan denounces mainland China for ‘over the top’ flights into island’s air defence zone

Military analysts say recent flyovers indicate the PLA can easily send warplanes to the southern and eastern parts of the island

The record number of planes entering the island’s air defence zone may be a sign jets from different units can team up on missions

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A hundred PLA J-16 fighter jets have taken part in recent missions. Photo: AP

Lawrence Chung

Published: 2:00pm, 10 Oct 2021Updated: 12:48am, 11 Oct 2021

Taiwan’s authorities have been warned some military bases are at greater risk of attack after the People’s Liberation Army sent a record number of warplanes to test the island’s air defences earlier this month.

Analysing the recent spike in PLA sorties, local military experts said this indicated the air force’s combat ability had developed to the point that it could easily send warplanes to the southern and southeastern parts of the island if it wished.

In the first four days of the month almost 150 warplanes entered Taiwan’s air defence identification zone, prompting the Taiwanese military to scramble jets and deploy missiles to warn them off.

Beijing has sent warplanes to Taiwan’s ADIZ almost daily in the past year to ramp up pressure on the island, which it views as a breakaway province and has vowed to retake – by force if necessary.

The planes that took part in the flyovers included 100 advanced J-16 jet fighters, 20 Su-30 fighters, 18 H-6 bombers, seven Y-8 anti-submarine warfare planes, and four KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft.

In addition to daytime sorties, the PLA also staged three at night, according to Taiwan’s defence ministry.

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Taiwan denounces mainland China for ‘over the top’ flights into island’s air defence zone

“There was a huge number of J-16 jets, and if there were more than 32 J-16s in each incursion, it means they came from different PLA military units as each PLA air brigade has only 24 to 32 J-16s,” said Chieh Chung, a researcher at the Association of Strategic Foresight, a Taipei-based think tank.