Two dozen Chinese military aircraft can be seen flying near Taiwan on Thursday in an apparent show of force.
Nineteen People’s Liberation Army aircraft, including 12 J-16 fighters, two J-11 jets, two H-6 bombers, two anti-submarine-warfare aircraft, and one electronic-warfare aircraft, entered Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone Thursday morning, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense.
In a second flight Thursday afternoon, two J-16s, two J-11s, and one KJ-500 early-warning aircraft, entered the ADIZ, the defense ministry said.
In response, Taiwan deployed air patrol assets during both instances. The Chinese military aircraft were tracked by air-defense systems, and radio warnings were issued.
This incident comes a week after Taiwan proposed boosting military spending by $8.7bn over the next five years. China also sent a round of military aircraft a day after Taiwan announced its military budget increase.
In the past few months, Taiwan’s defense ministry has reported an increase in Chinese military aircraft activity within its ADIZ.
On April 12, 2021, as many as 25 Chinese military aircraft entered the country’s air defense identification zone. Another record incursion of 28 aircraft was also recorded on June 15, 2021.
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In 2020, the ministry reported that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) flew about 380 sorties into the country’s ADIZ ‒ the highest number since 1996.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the G-7 leaders of “interfering in China’s internal affairs” and warned that “China’s determination to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests is unwavering.”
It is unclear what motivations were behind Thursday’s flights, but the maneuvers follow Taiwan’s announcement that it applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, a multilateral trade agreement.
Taiwan’s announcement came less than a week after China said it had applied to join the trade bloc.
Speaking on the matter Thursday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, adding that “China firmly opposes all official interactions with Taiwan, firmly rejects Taiwan’s accession to any agreement or organization of official nature.”
