Taiwan: Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said 52 Chinese Fighter Jets made incursions into its air defense territory on Monday 4 October, the highest number since the island began publicly reporting such activities last year. All 52 Chinese Fighter Jets incursions were made during daytime hours on Monday.
The previous record was posted on Saturday, when 39 Chinese military planes entered into Taiwan territory.
According to Taiwanese Defense Ministry statement, the 52 Chinese aircraft included 34 J-16 fighter jets, 12 H-6 bombers, two SU-30 fighters, two Y-8 anti/submarine warfare planes and two KJ-500 airborne early warning and control planes.
A map released by the ministry showed all the 52 Chinese Fighter Jets incursions staying at the extreme southwestern part of Taiwan’s ADIZ. In response, the ministry said radio warnings were issued and air defense missile systems were deployed to monitor the activity.
In the air transmission warnings, the Taiwanese air force could be heard ordering the aircraft to “turn around and leave immediately” upon their entry into its territory. The incursions did not violate Taiwan’s sovereign airspace, which extends 12 nautical miles from its coast. The US Federal Aviation Administration defines an ADIZ as “a designated area of airspace over land or water within which a country requires the immediate and positive identification, location and air traffic control of aircraft in the interest of the country’s national security.”
Taiwan Defense Ministry statistics shows that in October, 145 incursions made by Chinese Fighter Jets into its airspace,
After record-breaking incursions over the weekend, Taiwan air force released a promotional video on facebook which shows “When faced with our enemy’s aggression and provocation, we will never compromise,” and “The determination to defend our sovereignty is unwavering.”,
China has yet to respond to these incursions, but an article in the state-run Global Times on Sunday said the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was conducting “expanded drills” near Taiwan.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has refused to rule out military force to capture Taiwan if necessary.
