Taiwan scrambles jets as China breaches its air defence zone

The Chinese jets included one Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft, four H-6, 10 J-16 and four Su Kai-30 aircraft….reports Asian Lite News

Taiwan on Sunday scrambled its jets soon after nearly 19 Chinese aircraft entered its air defence identification zone, the country’s defence ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence said in a tweet, “19 PLA aircraft (Y-8 ASW, H-6*4, J-16*10 and SU-30*4) entered #Taiwan’s southwest air defence identification zone on September 5, 2021.”

The Chinese jets included one Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft, four H-6, 10 J-16 and four Su Kai-30 aircraft.

Soon after the Chinese aircraft’s activities were detected, Taiwan dispatched air patrol troops to respond, the ministry said adding that an anti-aircraft missile system was also tracking and monitoring the Chinese activity.

On Saturday, four Chinese jets had entered the country’s air defence identification zone.

Taking to Twitter, Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said on Saturday, “4 PLA aircraft (JH-7*2 and Y-8 ASW*2) entered #Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ on September 4, 2021.”

Taiwan scrambled combat air patrol and deployed air defence missile systems to monitor the activity.

Beijing has been rigorously violating Taiwan’s border as it claims full sovereignty over Taiwan, a democracy of almost 24 million people located off the southeastern coast of mainland China, despite the fact that the two sides have been governed separately for more than seven decades.

Countries condemn Beijing

Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Bob Menendez along with a group of pro-Taiwan legislators from Europe strongly condemned China’s political, diplomatic and economic pressure on Lithuania.

The developments came after Lithuania’s decision to establish an office in Taipei in an attempt to establish strong ties with the country, Taiwan News reported.

We stand with Lithuania, Free nations are standing together as China puts pressure on a sovereign people to change their policies. We stand together as NATO and Europe,” Tom Tugendhat, Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom also said in a tweet.

2 PLA aircraft entered Taiwan’s southwest(Twitter)

Two days ago, the Formosa Club, which is a group of pro-Taiwanese legislators in Europe, also sent messages to the EU and NATO backing Lithuania’s right to develop ties with Taiwan and to establish a trade office in its capital city. This is something that 15 other European nations have already done, Taiwan News reported.

In recent years, China has stepped up its military pressure on Taiwan. In June, the country sent over two dozen warplanes near the island, prompting Taiwan to alert its air defences.

On June 1, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to complete reunification with self-ruled Taiwan and vowed to smash any attempts at formal independence for the island.

Reacting to Xi’s remarks, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) accused the CCP of tightening its dictatorship in the name of national rejuvenation internally and attempting to alter the international order with its hegemonic ambitions externally, Focus Taiwan reported.

“We urge the other side of the strait to learn from history and push for democratic reforms,” the MAC said, calling on the CCP to stop expansionist behaviour and to act as a responsible party in promoting regional peace. (ANI)

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