China Sends Fighter Jets And Bombers To Taiwan's Air Defense Zone, President Xi: Important To Strengthen Practical Experience

Taiwanese F-16 fighter jets shadow Chinese H-6 bombers in the air defense zone. (Wikimedia Commons/軍事新聞通訊社)

JAKARTA - Taiwan's Air Force rushed to action to alert 27 Chinese warplanes that had entered Taiwan's defense zone, as Chinese President Xi Jinping met with his top generals on Sunday.

This is the umpteenth time that China has sent back its Air Force fleet which Taiwan has frequently protested against over the past year, often in the southwestern part of the air defense identification zone or ADIZ, close to the Taiwanese-controlled Pratas Islands.

Taiwan calls China's repeated military activities nearby a "grey zone", designed to weaken Taiwan's power by making them repeatedly test Taiwan's response.

Over a four-day period starting on October 1, when China marks its national day, Taiwan said nearly 150 Chinese military (PLA) aircraft entered its ADIZ, not territorial airspace but a wider area monitored and Taiwan patrols acting to provide more plenty of time to respond to each threat.

On Sunday's mission, China deployed among others 18 fighter jets plus five nuclear-capable H-6 bombers, as well as, remarkably, a Y-20 aerial refueling aircraft, Taiwan's Ministry of Defense said, citing Reuters Nov. 29.

The bomber and six warplanes flew south of Taiwan into the Bashi Strait that separates the island from the Philippines, then out into the Pacific before returning to China, according to maps provided by the ministry.

27 PLA aircraft (KJ-500 AEW&C*2, Y-9 EW, H-6*5, Y-20 Aerial Refueling , J-10*6, J-11*4 and J-16*8) entered #Taiwan's southwest ADIZ on November 28, 2021. Please check our official website for more information: https://t.co/5dD6TBSyh7 pic.twitter.com/AeNKLdRaXG

— Ministry of National Defense, ROC (@MoNDefense) November 28, 2021

The planes were accompanied by refueling planes, showing China refueling short-range fighters, a skill the country's air force is still working on honing, to enable it to project power further from China's shores.

In response, Taiwan sent warplanes to warn Chinese aircraft, while missile systems were deployed to monitor them, the Defense Ministry said.

There was no immediate comment from China, which has in the past said such measures are exercises aimed at protecting the country's sovereignty.

Separately, Chinese state media reported that President Xi Jinping had held a three-day meeting ending on Sunday with top Chinese officials to discuss how to further strengthen the armed forces through talent development.

Although he did not mention Taiwan directly in his speech, President Xi did emphasize the need to modernize the military in order to win the war.

"It is important to make great efforts to strengthen scientific and technological literacy, to increase actual capabilities to win modern wars," the official Xinhua news agency quoted President Xi as saying.

"It is necessary to strengthen practical experience to encourage and guide officers and soldiers to experience wind and rain, see the world, strengthen their muscles and bones, and develop their talents in fiery military exercises," Xi said.