Taiwan scrambled its fighter jets in self-defence on Sunday after 27 Chinese air force planes entered its air defence identification zone (ADIZ) yet again.
According to Taiwanese sources, the Chinese squadron included 18 fighters jets, five nuclear-capable H-6 bombers, and a Y-20 aerial refuelling aircraft. The addition of the refuelling aircraft in the mission is unusual and suggests that China is developing its skill of refuelling its shorter-range fighters in flight in order to project its power farther from its shores.
Taiwan’s defence ministry provided a map of their route, according to which the bombers and six of the fighters flew to the south of Taiwan into the Bashi Channel and then out into the Pacific before heading back to China. The water body separates the island from the Philippines.
In response to the incursion, Taiwan sent combat aircraft as a warning and deployed missile systems to monitor them.
Beijing made no immediate comment on the incident but has said in the past that the “routine” drills are simply aimed at protecting its national sovereignty. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s armed forces said that it believes the Chinese military force is attempting to exhaust Taiwan with its repeated missions near its borders.
“Their intention is to slowly exhaust; to let you know that we have this power. Our national forces have shown that, while you may have this power, we have countermeasures,” Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng told reporters when asked about the latest incursion. Chiu described the situation as “very serious,” and said that the island will continue to monitor the types of aircraft that China uses during its drills.
The latest incursion comes on the back of a surprise visit to Taiwan by United States (US) lawmakers. As part of the previously unannounced two-day trip, five members of the US House of Representatives arrived on Thursday night. It is the second visit by a US delegation this month.
At the time of the visit, China’s military carried out “combat readiness” patrols in the direction of the Taiwan Strait on Friday as an indication of displeasure. Friday’s fleet included eight Chinese air force aircraft, including two nuclear-capable H-6 bombers, which flew close to the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands in the South China Sea.
“The relevant actions are necessary to deal with the current situation in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan is part of China's territory, and defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity is our military's sacred mission,” the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said of the drills.
China has carried out increasingly frequent military drills near Taiwan in recent years. Following its largest-ever incursion in October that involved 125 planes, Chinese military expert Song Zhongping told the state-owned media outlet Global Times that “the increasing scale of exercises is normal and routine” because the PLA needs to increase its deployment “to deter armed forces on the island and foreign interference from other nations.”