Chinese military planes enter Taiwan's ADIZ for 17th day in March

Taipei, March 29 (CNA) A total of 10 Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan's southwest air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Monday, the 17th day on which such intrusions have occurred in March alone.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft involved in the mission were four J-16 multirole fighters, four J-10 multirole fighters, one Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane and one KJ-500 airborne early warning and control plane, according to a Ministry of National Defense (MND) report.

Taiwan's Air Force responded by scrambling planes to monitor the Chinese aircraft, issuing radio warnings and mobilizing air defense systems until the aircraft left the area, the MND said.

The airspace is considered by Taiwan as part of its ADIZ, which is declared by a country to allow it to identify, locate and control approaching foreign aircraft, although such zones are not recognized under international law.

Monday's intrusions made the seventh day since March 20 that such intrusions have occurred and the 17th since the beginning of this month.

Some military analysts in Taiwan believe that such flyovers may be part of a strategy by Beijing to project an impression that the airspace is its own backyard that it can frequent anytime it wishes.