Taiwan reports incursion of 28 Chinese fighter planes in its ADIZ

Beijing, Jun 16 (EFE).- The defense ministry of Taiwan reported Wednesday that 28 Chinese fighter planes crossed into its Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) the previous day.

It marked the largest such incursion in a single day since the ministry began making public news of such maneuvers by China in September last year.

According to a statement by the defense ministry, a Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft, a Y-8 reconnaissance aircraft, four H-6 bombers, two KJ-500 radar aircraft, six J-11 fighters and 14 J-16 fighters from China flew into its ADIZ.

The Taiwanese Air Force issued radio warnings and mobilized its units until Chinese aircraft left the area, the statement added.

The number of Chinese military aircraft entering Taiwan’s ADIZ has increased in recent months.

Tuesday’s incursion came a day after the G7 countries, following a summit at Carbis Bay in the United Kingdom, released a statement underlining the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as one of its priorities.

The government at Beijing criticized the G7 communique claiming it distorted the facts on several issues, including Taiwan, and attempted to deliberately slander China.

A statement by the Chinese government stressed that the G7 declaration interfered with China’s internal affairs in violation of norms governing international relations, and expressed its strong dissatisfaction and disapproval.

Tensions between Beijing and Taipei increased considerably during former US President Donald Trump’s tenure, which prioritized strengthening relations with Taiwan, including arms sales, despite Washington having broken relations with the island in favor of China in 1979.

In April, the US administration under President Joe Biden reaffirmed its support for the island during a meeting between three former senior US officials and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in Taipei.

Taiwan has been governed autonomously since 1949 – when Kuomintang nationalists took refuge on the island after losing the civil war against the Communists – although Beijing claims sovereignty over it and has not ruled out the use of force to recover it. EFE

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