Taiwan reports large incursion by mainland Chinese air force
- The island’s defence ministry says eight bombers and four fighters crossed into its air defence identification zone on Saturday
- Incursions have been a near daily occurrence but usually involve only one or two planes at a time
Eight mainland Chinese bomber planes and four fighter jets entered the southwestern corner of Taiwan’s air defence identification zone on Saturday, and Taiwan’s air force deployed missiles to “monitor” the incursion, the island’s defence ministry said.
However they have generally consisted of just one or two reconnaissance aircraft.
The presence of so many mainland Chinese combat aircraft on this mission – Taiwan said it was made up of eight nuclear-capable H-6K bombers and four J-16 fighter jets – is unusual.
A map provided by Taiwan’s defence ministry showed that the PLA aircraft, which also included a Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft, flew over the same waters where the most recent missions have been taking place near the Pratas Islands, though still well away from mainland Taiwan.
Taiwan’s air force warned away the aircraft and deployed missiles to monitor them, the ministry added, using standard wording for how it responds to such activities.