Six Chinese warplanes, including four H-6 strategic bombers, two electronic intelligence jets, one Tu-154MD and the other Y-8, flew past the Miyako Strait between Taiwan and Japan’s Okinawa prefecture on November 19, until the Japanese Self-defence Force scrambled jet fighters to monitor and intercept the flyover, Japan’s Ministry of Defence said.
Taiwan authorities confirmed that the Chinese warplanes crossed deep into the island’s airspace – above the waters off Eastern Taiwan – before following the same route back.
“The flyover was closely monitored while our warplanes and pilots were put on full alert. The national armed forces will strive to defend airspace and the safety of our people,” Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said in a statement.
A report on Monday in Beijing mouthpiece Global Times also said that a number of People’s Liberation Army Air Force planes traversed the Taiwan Strait – the first time after the conclusion of the Communist Party’s 19th Congress last month and US President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing. It hailed the resumption of saber-rattling a “righteous patrolling of Beijing’s own sea and airspace”.
Taipei-based Liberty Times revealed that the PLA planes passed the suspected crash site of a Taiwan Dassault Mirage 2000 fighter which went missing northeast off Keelung on November 7.
“The two Chinese intelligence jets didn’t just happen to fly past the site, while the air-sea search for the pilot and plane is still underway, with frequent communication among ships, planes and the Taiwan military command…
“The Chinese spy planes aimed to intercept signals and collect intel about Taiwan army’s communication, as well as rescue and emergency deployment,” United Daily News quoted an observer as saying.
The spy version of the Russia-made Tu-154 can ascend to an altitude of 12,000 meters, and the China-modified Tu-154MD has a large synthetic aperture radar under its mainframe, together with infrared imaging and a television surveillance system. The aircraft has been plying Taiwan’s airspace in recent years when Beijing beefs up its intelligence warfare against the island.
Papers in Taiwan say the frequency of Beijing’s incursions into Taiwan airspace have ballooned within a short span of three years: from around once per quarter between 2015 and mid-2016 to at least 19 times in the 12 months up to August.
“Beijing has really made [such patrolling] a new normal and it has shown no intention to slacken the pace, with six planes above Taiwan in a single day,” a Taiwan military expert said.
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Low Ngee Kiat They came to Taiwan because they had guns and were in post-war occupation of Taiwan on the orders of a US general. No sovereignty was ever transterred. No treaty.
Erens Natangwe Nakale Taiwan is not a part of China. Soveriegnty was never transferred in a treaty post-WWII. Taiwan belongs to its people and no one else.
Jef Mabone are you talking about the US
China ceded Formosa to Japan under duress in the Treaty of Shimonoseki, signed in 1895. At the end of WW2 the Potsdam Declaration renounced Japan’s control of Formosa and it was occupied by the Republic of China. China then booted out the KMT government in 1949.
That does not mean that Formosa ceased to be part of China.
Jef Mabone not sure about liking China, but sure that 90% of world hate USA. We are waiting now to watch how Russians and Chinese will destroy EMPIRE OF EVIL
CHINA HAS NEVER GIVEN UP ITS RIGHTS TO TAWAIN AND CONSIDERS IT AS RIGHTFULLY JUST A PROVINCE OF CHINA AND WILL HAVE IT BACK IN THE FOLD WHENEVER THEY SEE FIT.–GET USED TO IT PEOPLE.
Erens Natangwe Nakale Go trolling somewhere else. China is a clown country with illegal claims everywhere.
Jef Mabone TAIWAN REMAIN PARTEN PARCEL OF CHINA, NO ONE SHOULD HAVE POWER OVER THE ISLAND THAN BEIJINNG
Tsai is the President of the Republic of China. A democratic nation.
Low Ngee Kiat People in Austria also speak German. Dont repeat nonsense Chinese propaganda.
Taiwan is my country.
Soan Wah Lee You are just another Chinese troll. No one likes China, this is the truth.
Soan Wah Lee it is my opinion isnt it ? true that they are grabbing everything.. ahh maybe someday even opinions will be owned by your 9 dash lines he he
This article is funadmentally misleading. It conflates Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) with its "airspace" (national borders including air above territorial waters). China has not violated Taiwan’s national borders because it knows its aircraft would be immediately shot down by Taiwan’s excellent military.
Keep your opinion until then.
Read history first!98% of migrants defeated soldiers from China during Ming/KMT and they can go there because it is Chinese lands
ELINT flights, lighting up all the radars and defence systems at once so they can gather information. Sending a subtle message too
soon they will be patrolling all of the south china sea.. then make another dash lines in antartic and say they owned it in dreams…
China GTFO. Reapeating your communist lies wont make it true.
Taiwan is already an independent nation and was NEVER a part of the PRC.
Taiwan is already an independent country. These retarded communists obviously dont know their own borders.
It is good to see more Chinese patrols in its own backyard keeping the peace. Avert war by maintaining a strong presence and warning off potential enemies!