Chinese aircraft enters Taiwan's ADIZ: MND

Taipei, Aug. 15 (CNA) A Chinese military aircraft flew in Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) at one point while on its way back to China after a far-sea training mission two days ago, a Ministry of National Defense (MND) official said Tuesday.

After flying close to Japan's Miyako Islands on Aug. 13, the Y-8 electronic warfare aircraft turned west and flew at a latitude of 27 degrees north to enter Taiwan's ADIZ, MND spokesman Chen Chung-chi (陳中吉) said, confirming a report in the Liberty Times.

He said that although such incidents "have not occurred very frequently," Taiwan's military has maintained high levels of alert to prevent any Chinese aircraft from making their way into the country's airspace.

ADIZs are different from a country's airspace. ADIZs usually cover a broad area and serve as an early warning zone to identify and monitor aircraft approaching its territory, while airspace comprises the sky above a territory plus 12 nautical miles of coastal waterways.

According to the MND, China's Air Force has conducted four rounds of far-sea flight training near Taiwan's ADIZ so far this month, after four rounds of similar training in July. The Y-8 aircraft were dispatched on at least five occasions.

Chen said the aircraft were likely used to collect intelligence on Taiwan's military, and he assured the public that the military has taken proper measures to protect its data from being intercepted by enemies.

(By Lu Hsin-hui and Y.F. Low)ENDITEM/ls