22 Chinese military aircraft enter Taiwan's ADIZ

Taipei, June 23 (CNA) A total of 22 Chinese military aircraft flew into the southwestern part of Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Thursday, the fourth-highest single-day total this year, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND).

The aircraft included 10 Shenyang J-16 fighter jets, five JH-7 fighter-bombers, two Y-8 electronic signals intelligence aircraft, two KJ-500 airborne early warning and control planes, two H-6 bombers and one Y-8 electronic warfare aircraft.

In response, Taiwan scrambled a combat air patrol, sent radio warnings, and deployed defense missile systems to track the Chinese military planes, the MND said.

Taiwan's defense ministry has published information about such flights since Sept. 17, 2020, amid a rising number of intrusions into the nation's ADIZ by Chinese military planes

The highest number of incursions reported this year was 39 on Jan. 23, followed by 30 on May 30 and 29 on June 21, MND data showed.

An ADIZ is an area declared by a country to allow it to identify, locate and control approaching foreign aircraft, it is not part of territorial airspace as defined by international law.