10 Chinese Fighter Planes Again Break Through Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone

Illustration of Taiwan's F-16 fighter jets overshadows Chinese H-6 bombers at ADIZ. (Wikimedia Commons/Obviously)

JAKARTA - Ten Chinese air force aircraft entered Taiwan's air defense identification zone on Wednesday, "accompanying" the five Chinese warships involved in the "war readiness" patrol, the country's Ministry of Defense said, signaling a second attack this week.

Taiwan's defense ministry said it began detecting a total of 25 Chinese aircraft involved in operations at sea, including J-10 and J-16 fighters, as well as H-6 bombers, starting at 9 am local time.

From the plane, the ministry said 10 of them had crossed the Taiwan Strait median line, which previously served as an unofficial barrier between the two sides, or entered the southwestern part of Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ).

The planes acted in coordination with five Chinese warships involved in "war preparedness" patrols, the ministry said.

"Taiwan military sent ships and planes just in case," the ministry continued.

ADIZ is a large area monitored and patroled by Taiwan to give its troops more time to respond to threats, and Chinese aircraft have not yet entered Taiwanese airspace.

Earlier, Taiwan reported a similar level of activity by Chinese warplanes and warships near the island on Sunday.

It is known, China held war games around Taiwan in April, after President Tsai Ing-wen returned from a visit to the United States where he met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Last August, they also held war games around Taiwan to protest their trip to Taipei by the then Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.

Most recently, China was angry after Taiwanese Vice President William Lai transited into the United States on his way to Paraguay this week.

It was China's "priority" to stop Lai from visiting the United States, Beijing's ambassador to the US said last month.

The democratically elected Taiwanese government rejects China's claim to sovereignty, saying only the island's people can decide their future, although Beijing's last three years have stepped up its pressure for the island to accept its sovereignty.