Chinese, U.S. military aircraft fly near Taiwan's airspace

Taipei, Jan. 31 (CNA) Five Chinese military aircraft flew into Taiwan's southwest air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Sunday, the same day the Ministry of National Defense (MND) revealed a United States military reconnaissance aircraft was monitored flying close to Taiwan's airspace.

Although the American aircraft's flight route was not indicated, this is the first time the ministry has revealed the movement of a U.S. military aircraft since September 2020.

The Chinese military planes in the latest intrusion were a Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft, two J-10 and two J-11 fighter jets, the MND said.

The Air Force responded by scrambling fighter jets to monitor the Chinese aircraft, issuing radio warnings and mobilizing air defense assets until the planes left the ADIZ, it added.

China sent 15 military airplanes into Taiwan's ADIZ on Jan. 24, the highest number this year and the 20th day in January Chinese aircraft had entered the nation's ADIZ as Beijing intensifies its military pressure on Taiwan.

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

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