Taiwan deploys air defense as China aircraft enter the zone. After Beijing’s latest mass air assault, Taiwan activated its defense systems on Thursday. China, which claims democratic Taiwan as its own, has flown its air force near Taiwan for three years.
From 5 a.m. (2100 GMT on Wednesday), Taiwan’s defense ministry spotted 37 Chinese air force planes, including J-11 and J-16 fighters and nuclear-capable H-6 bombers, moving into its southwestern air defense identification zone (ADIZ).
Taiwan monitors and patrols a larger ADIZ to give its military more time to respond to threats.
“Air surveillance and long distance navigation training” was conducted by certain Chinese aircraft in Taiwan’s southeast and the western Pacific, the ministry said.
As usual, Taiwan sent aircraft and ships to watch and activate land-based missile systems.
China’s defense ministry didn’t immediately respond.
On Wednesday, China and Russia completed a second round of combined aviation patrols over the Western Pacific, following flights over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea on Tuesday. Japan was concerned about its national security.
This week, Laura Rosenberger, chair of the American Institute in Taiwan, is visiting Taiwan.
She told Taiwan media on Monday that the US had a long-term interest in Taiwan Strait stability and would continue to arm the island, a source of strain in Sino-U.S. relations.
After Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen visited the US, China held war games surrounding Taiwan in April.
Taiwan’s administration rejects China’s sovereignty claims and says only its people can decide their future.
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