Three Chinese military planes enter Taiwan's ADIZ

Taipei, Jan. 12 (CNA) Three Chinese military aircraft entered the southwest corner of Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Tuesday, according to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND).

The planes involved were a Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft, a Y-8 electronic warfare plane and a Y-8 tactical reconnaissance plane, the ministry said.

The Air Force responded to the incursion by scrambling fighter jets to monitor the Chinese aircraft, issuing radio warnings and mobilizing air defense assets until they left the zone, MND added.

An ADIZ is established by a country to allow identification, location and control of approaching foreign aircraft. However, unlike territorial airspace, no legal foundation for the ADIZ is explicitly stipulated in international law.

Due to the increasing number of incursions by Chinese military planes in recent months, the MND on Sept. 17, 2020 began to publish their movements regularly on its website to keep the public better informed.

According to ministry spokesperson Shih Shun-wen (史順文), the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) flew about 380 aircraft into the zone's southwest corner in 2020.