37 Chinese military planes enter Taiwan’s air defense zone

The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense revealed that the Chinese military aircraft involved in the incursion included fighter jets and bombers.

#VantageOnFirstpost: 37 Chinese planes flew into #Taiwan’s air defence zone on Thursday. #Taipei responded in kind, activated its defence systems and sent its own aircraft and ships to track #China’s war planes. Why is China stepping up activities in the #IndoPacific? pic.twitter.com/1ojpldEDIO

— Firstpost (@firstpost) June 8, 2023

The Chinese aircraft entered Taiwan’s ADIZ in the southwestern corner before proceeding toward the southeast. As they crossed into the western Pacific, the Chinese aircraft engaged in activities related to air surveillance and long-distance navigation training. However, the exact details and objectives of their manoeuvres remain undisclosed.

In response to the provocative move, Taiwan scrambled its own fighter jets and issued radio warnings to the Chinese aircraft to leave its airspace. Additionally, Taiwan’s military surveillance systems were closely monitoring the situation, while the government lodged a formal protest with Beijing over the incident.

The ADIZ serves as an area outside of Taiwan’s territorial airspace that is monitored and patrolled to allow its forces more time to respond to potential threats. However, the repeated incursions by Chinese military aircraft have become a source of concern for Taipei and the international community.

The Taiwanese Defense Ministry stated that the Chinese aircraft involved in the incursion included advanced fighter jets, such as the J-11, J-16, and J-20, as well as H-6 bombers. These aircraft are known for their long-range capabilities and can conduct various military operations.
This is not the first time China has breached Taiwan’s air defense zone.

In recent years, Beijing has significantly increased its military activities near Taiwan, with frequent incursions by Chinese aircraft and naval vessels. Such actions by China have raised concerns among Taiwanese officials and sparked tensions in the region.

Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China, considers itself a sovereign state, with its own government, military, and constitution. However, the People’s Republic of China views Taiwan as a part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control. The ongoing dispute over Taiwan’s political status remains one of the most sensitive and volatile issues in East Asia.

The international community has been closely monitoring the situation between Taiwan and China, with many nations expressing their support for Taiwan’s security and sovereignty. The United States, in particular, has maintained a strong relationship with Taiwan and has frequently denounced Chinese military activities near the island.