US urges China to stop ‘provocative’ Taiwan activities after PLA’s latest record flyover

Name: Taiwan denounces mainland China for ‘over the top’ flights into island’s air defence zone
Uploaded: 2021-10-03T05:52:27.000Z
Description: Taiwan denounces mainland China for ‘over the top’ flights into island’s air defence zone

Record number of planes enter island’s air defence zone on successive days

Flights seen as a warning to President Tsai Ing-wen ahead of October 10, the 110th anniversary of the Republic of China

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A Chinese PLA KJ-500 aircraft enters Taiwan’s air defence identification zone on October 2. Photo: Handout via EPA-EFE

Laura Zhouin Beijing

Published: 1:52pm, 3 Oct 2021Updated: 4:31pm, 6 Oct 2021

The US said it is “very concerned” after China sent a record number of warplanes into Taiwan’s air defence zone for two consecutive days, and said its commitment to Taiwan is “rock solid”.

State Department spokesman Ned Price warned China’s “provocative military activity near Taiwan” was “destabilising, risks miscalculations, and undermines regional peace and stability”.

“We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure and coercion against Taiwan,” he said.

The statement came after a record 39 People’s Liberation Army warplanes entered Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ) on Saturday, the defence ministry of the self-ruled island said, breaking the previous record of 38 jets sent on Friday as tensions across the Taiwan Strait continue to rise.

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

A total of 20 PLA warplanes, 14 J-16 strike fighters, four Su-30 fighter jets and two Y-8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft, were observed in the southwest of Taiwan’s ADIZ during daylight hours on Saturday, according to Taiwan’s defence ministry.