As per the reports, about 28 Chinese air force aircraft, including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers, entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Tuesday. This move is being reported as the largest incursion by China since the self-ruled island began regularly reporting such actions last year.
In response to the Chinese action, Taiwan’s air force deployed its combat air patrol forces in the areas and monitored the situation in the southwestern part of the island’s air defense identification zone with its air defense systems.
Taiwan has become an independent territory and is separately governed since 1949 following the Chinese civil war. The relationship between mainland China and the island state has worsened since Tsai Ing-wen became Taiwanese president in the year 2016 as Beijing claims full sovereignty over Taiwan. While Taiwan sees itself as a sovereign state, Beijing claims the island as a breakaway province.
The majority of Taiwanese people have always rejected the possibility of political unification with China under the “one country, two systems” framework, similar to what is used by China to continue its authority in Hong Kong.
According to the Defense Ministry of Taiwan, the Chinese incursion mission included 14 J-16, six J-11 fighters, four nuclear-capable H-6 bombers as well as anti-submarine, electronic warfare and early warning aircraft.
Since last year, China has been flying its fighter jets toward the island country on a daily basis, terming it as a demonstration of its seriousness towards defending its national sovereignty.
It is being reported that the news came after the Group of Seven (G7) leaders issued a joint statement on Sunday calling out China for attacking and disturbing the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The G7 leaders also raised serious concerns over the situation in the East and South China Seas. The claims were dismissed by China as “slander”.
China in past has even described such incursions as a necessary step to protect the country’s sovereignty and to deal with “collusion” between Taiwan and the United States.