Machines approach island nation
Beijing’s fighter jets provoke Taiwan
01/23/2022 11:46 p.m
Beijing regards Taiwan as a breakaway province. The People’s Republic repeatedly provokes the island state with military maneuvers. Dozens of warplanes are now penetrating the country’s defense zone again. It is China’s biggest provocation since October.
Taiwan on Sunday reported the worst violation of its air defense zone by Chinese military planes in weeks. According to the Ministry of Defense in Taipei, 39 aircraft had been warned against entering the area. Accordingly, 34 fighter planes, a bomber and other planes were registered. The aircraft were J-10 and J-16 fighter jets, one H-6 fighter jet and two Y-9 and Y-8 machines.
Taiwan reportedly sent fighter jets to warn the Chinese invaders. In addition, missile systems were used to monitor them. Shots were not fired. It is China’s largest provocation in the airspace near Taiwan since October 4, 2021, when 56 aircraft entered the air defense zone.
Taiwan has complained of regular Chinese air force operations near the island for more than a year. Beijing, on the other hand, sees the democratic island state, which broke away from the mainland in 1949, as a breakaway province and not as an independent state. In addition, the People’s Republic of China rejects any form of formal relations between other countries and the island republic. From Taiwan’s point of view, China’s actions are intended to test Taiwan’s readiness for action and to tire its armed forces. China initially did not comment.
In the past, the People’s Republic has described such maneuvers as exercises to protect the country’s sovereignty. The Chinese planes did not fly into Taiwan’s airspace but into the air defense zone – a larger area that Taiwan monitors and patrols to have more time to respond to threats.