China planes ‘violated Taiwanese airspace’

Taiwan’s Indigenous Defence Fighters were scrambled in response

Two Chinese military aircraft violated Taiwan’s airspace on Monday, officials said, causing Taiwan to scramble jets.

Taiwan said Chinese Y-8 maritime patrol planes entered the island’s ADIZ (air defence identification zone) in both the morning and the afternoon.

Taiwan scrambled planes which “followed them closely to make sure they left”, an air force spokesman said.

The alleged incident came days after the US accused a Chinese plane of dangerous manoeuvres near its aircraft.

Washington said the Chinese aircraft came within 10 metres of a US Navy patrol plane over international waters off Hainan Island on 19 August.

China described the claims as “groundless”, saying the pilot’s conduct was “professional”.

In the latest incident, Taiwan said the two Chinese planes violated its airspace twice each as they flew towards the South China Sea and back.

Mirage 2000-5s and Indigenous Defence Fighters were scrambled in response, officials said.

In a statement to Reuters news agency, China’s defence ministry said its planes had carried out a “routine flight” in “relevant airspace”. There was no “abnormality”, the statement said.

Beijing considers Taiwan part of China but the two have been governed separately since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949.

Economic ties have improved significantly in recent years but on a political level the two remain far apart.

China, meanwhile, has in recent years been taking a more assertive stance over its territorial claims in both the East China and South China seas, sparking a rise in regional tensions.

Related articles

• Chinese jet’s aggressive intercept of US jet in international waters (chinadailymail.com)
• Japan scrambles jets in Senkaku Islands dispute with China (chinadailymail.com)
• China bolsters East China Sea claim, warns of ‘defensive measures’ (chinadailymail.com)
• Australia joins Japan, Vietnam, Philippines in opposing China (chinadailymail.com)
• China and Philippines: The reasons why a battle for Zhongye (Pag-asa) Island seems unavoidable (chinadailymail.com)
• Taiwan Scrambles Jets After Chinese Aircraft Enter Airspace (breitbart.com)
• Taiwan Scrambles Jets After Chinese Aircraft Enter Airspace (thenewsdoctors.com)
• Chinese Surveillance Aircraft Enter Taiwan’s Airspace (thediplomat.com)
• Taiwan Says Chinese Jets Breached its Airspace (voatibetanenglish.com)
• Taiwan says Chinese military planes breached its airspace (worldbulletin.net)