Taiwan reports 2nd day of large Chinese incursion into air zone

Taiwan reported that today is the second day of large-scale Chinese air force incursions into its air defence identification zone.

Its defence ministry said, for over 24 hours, it spotted 21 aircraft, amid Beijing's military pressure campaign.

Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, has complained for about the past three years of stepped-up Chinese military activities near the island as Beijing seeks to assert its sovereignty claims.

China has said its activities in the area are justified as it seeks to defend its territorial integrity and to warn the United States against "colluding" with Taiwan, despite the anger this causes in Taipei.

Taiwan's defence ministry said the aircraft, 17 J-10 fighters and four J-16 fighters, had flown into the southwestern corner of Taiwan's air defence identification zone, according to a map the ministry released.

The J-10s, an older model that entered service two decades ago, flew closer to the Chinese coast than Taiwan's, while the J-16s, a much newer and more advanced fighter, flew northeast of the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands, the map showed.

The lightly defended Pratas Islands are strategically located at the top of the South China Sea, and many of China's fly-bys happen nearby.

Taiwan's forces monitored the situation, including sending up its own planes, the ministry added, using the normal phrasing for its response to such Chinese incursions.

The ministry yesterday reported 19 Chinese aircraft flying in Taiwan's air defence zone.

None of the aircraft crossed the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait, which has served as an unofficial barrier between the two sides, but which China's air force has been flying over almost daily since staging war games near Taiwan last August.

Combat drills

Taiwan last reported a large median line crossing of Chinese aircraft on Friday, when 10 planes were involved.

China has not commented on recent activities near Taiwan. In January, China said it staged combat drills around the island to "resolutely counter the provocative actions of external forces and Taiwan independence separatist forces".

No shots have been fired and the Chinese aircraft have been flying in Taiwan's Adiz, not in its territorial airspace.

The Adiz is a broader area Taiwan monitors and patrols which gives it more time to respond to any threats.

The democratically elected Taiwanese government has repeatedly offered talks with China but says the island will defend itself if attacked and that only the Taiwanese people can decide their own future.

- Reuters