Taiwan scrambles jets as PLA planes make mass sorties into air defence zone
- 18 aircraft involved in flyover while aircraft carrier strike group conducts exercises in the area
- USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group was also deployed in the nearby Philippine Sea
Taiwan’s defence ministry said on Saturday that 18 PLA aircraft entered the island’s air defence identification zone in the Taiwan Strait and southeast of the island.
In line with its previous responses, the Taiwanese air force scrambled fighters and tracked the incoming plane with air defence missiles, the ministry said.
The planes involved in Friday’s sorties were six J-16 fighters, six J-11 fighters, two H-6 bombers, two KJ-500 early warning and control aircraft, one Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft and one Y-8 electronic warfare and surveillance aircraft, the ministry said.
The H-6 bombers and Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft flew along the south of the Taiwan Strait, crossed the Bashi Channel and turned to the southeast off Taiwan before returning via the same route, according to a map supplied by the ministry.
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