Taiwanese Jets And Missile Systems Repel 29 Chinese Fighters In Defense Identification Zone, Including Six H-6 . Bombers

JAKARTA - Taiwan deployed fighter jets on Tuesday to alert 29 Chinese aircraft in its air defense zone, including bombers flying to the south of the island and into the Pacific, the latest and biggest tensions since late May.

China's latest 'mission' includes 17 fighters and six H-6 bombers, as well as electronic warfare, early warning, anti-submarine and aerial refueling aircraft, Taiwan's defense ministry said.

Several planes were flying in the northeastern area of Pratas, according to a map provided by the ministry, reported Reuters June 21.

However, the bombers, accompanied by electronic warfare and intelligence-gathering aircraft, flew into the Bashi Strait that separates Taiwan from the Philippines and into the Pacific before returning to China on the route they entered.

Taiwan sent warplanes to warn Chinese aircraft, while missile systems were deployed to monitor them, the ministry said, using standard wording for its response.

It was the biggest attack since Taiwan reported 30 Chinese aircraft at the ADIZ on May 30. The largest to date occurred on January 23, involving 39 aircraft.

Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained for the past two years about repeated missions by the Chinese air force near the democratically-ruled island, often in the southwest part of the air defense identification zone (ADIZ), close to the Pratas Islands it holds. Taiwanese.

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

Separately, there was no immediate comment from China, which has in the past said the move was an exercise aimed at protecting the country's sovereignty.

China's military said last month it had conducted drills around Taiwan, as a "serious warning" against its "proximity" to the United States.

It came after US President Joe Biden angered China by appearing to signal a change in US policy of "strategic ambiguity" on Taiwan, saying the United States would engage militarily if China attacked the island.