Taiwan said Friday that China’s military flew 38 fighter jets and other warplanes near its territory.
Encroaching the ADIZ
Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said in its daily update of Chinese military activity near the island that over the past 24 hours, 19 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft had entered the island’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ).
These included five SU-30 and two J-16 aircraft.
Combat Drone and Navy Vessels
Moreover, the self-governing island also said it had spotted a TB-001 — a new type of Chinese combat drone that has the capability to carry heavy weapons — flying around its territory.
19 of the detected aircraft(SU-30*5, J-10*8, J-16*2, TB-001 UCAV, BZK-005 UAV, Y-8 ASW, Y-8 RECCE) had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait or entered Taiwan’s southwest, southeast, and northeast ADIZ, flight paths as illustrated.
— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) April 28, 2023
Chinese state media has referred to the drone as the “twin-tailed scorpion,” touting its capability for high-altitude, long-range missions. Its media has also published pictures of the drone carrying missiles under its wings.
According to the Taiwanese defence ministry’s map, the drone first crossed the Bashi Channel, which separates the island from the Philippines. Then, it flew east of Taiwan before crossing back toward the Chinese coast.
In addition to the aircraft, six navy vessels were also spotted near Taiwanese waters between 6 a.m. on Thursday and 6 a.m. on Friday.
Timing
The incident marked the largest such flight display since the PLA conducted its large military exercise simulating sealing off the island earlier this month, which came in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen meeting US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles.