Taiwan has reported at least five incursions by the Chinese air force since Friday, with around 93 military planes flying into its air defence identification zone (ADIZ).
On Friday, 38 planes flew south of Taiwan. The sortie comprised of four H-6 bombers, which are capable of carrying nuclear weapons, and an anti-submarine aircraft. This is the largest ever incursion by the Chinese air force into the island’s ADIZ. Friday also marked China’s National Day, which is the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
Following this, China flew an additional 39 aircraft into the self-governing island’s ADIZ on Saturday in two separate forays. 20 planes were part of the daytime flights and another 19 took part at night. Both exercises were held in areas between the island of Taiwan and the Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea.
The island’s defence ministry identified most of the Chinese aircraft as J-16 and SU-30 fighter jets. In response, Taiwan sent combat aircraft to warn the Chinese aircraft to leave its airspace and deployed missile systems to monitor them.
While China is yet to officially comment on its recent military activity, Chinese military expert Song Zhongping told the state-owned media outlet Global Times on Saturday that “the increasing scale of exercises is normal and routine” because the People’s Liberation Army needs to increase its deployment “to deter armed forces on the island and foreign interference from other nations.” He further added that nighttime drills were also “important because combat could take place at any time.”
Taiwanese Premier Su Tseng-chang criticised the incursions on Saturday. “China has always conducted brutal and barbarian actions to jeopardize regional peace,” he said while attending the opening ceremony of a science park in southern Taiwan.
However, on Sunday, the island’s defence ministry once again reported that another 16 Chinese military planes had flown into its air defence zone near the Pratas Islands atoll.
The series of incursions were also condemned by the United States (US), a Taiwanese ally, on Sunday. The US state department called China’s aggressions “destabilising” for the region and reiterated the US government’s “rock solid” commitment to Taiwan.
“The United States is very concerned by... China’s provocative military activity near Taiwan, which is destabilizing, risks miscalculations and undermines regional peace and stability… We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure and coercion against Taiwan,” the US State Department said in a statement.
Taiwan, which is claimed by Beijing as part of its own territory, has been complaining of increasing Chinese incursions into its airspace and waterways over the past year. Last year, the island reported 380 aircraft flying into the zone’s southwest corner on 91 occasions between January 1 to November 30.
In fact, the island has been expanding its defence budget every year and strengthening its multilateral relations to deter Chinese dominance over its sovereignty.