19 Chinese Fighter Jets Enter Defense Identification Zone, Taiwan Sends Air Force Planes

Chinese fighter jet formation. (Wikimedia Commons/)

JAKARTA - Taiwan's Ministry of Defense on Wednesday announced it had seen about 19 Chinese air force aircraft in its air defense identification zone in the past 24 hours.

Taiwan's Ministry of Defense said 19 J-10 warplanes had flown to the southwestern corner of the island's air defense identification zone, or ADIZ, although closer to China's coast than Taiwan according to the ministry's released map.

"Taiwan forces are monitoring the situation, including sending their own air force aircraft," the ministry said, using normal expressions for its response to such Chinese attacks.

Furthermore, it said the plane did not cross the sensitive line of the Taiwan Strait median, which previously served as an unofficial barrier between the two parties.

No shots were fired and the Chinese plane flew at Taiwan's ADIZ, not in its territorial airspace.

ADIZ is a wider area, monitored and supervised by Taiwan to give Taiwan more time to respond to any threats.

Democratically elected Taiwanese governments have repeatedly offered talks with China, however, the island will defend itself if attacked and only the Taiwanese people can decide their own future.

Taiwan, which China sees as its own territory, has complained over the past three years or so, as China's military activity near the island increases, as Beijing seeks to assert its sovereignty claims.

Meanwhile, China says its activities in the region are justified for trying to maintain its territorial integrity, as well as to warn the United States against "colluding" with Taiwan, although this has angered Taipei.