Taiwan says record 38 Chinese planes entered defence zone
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Taiwan has reported 38 Chinese military jets flying into its air defence zone on Friday – the largest incursion by Beijing to date.
The defence ministry said the aircraft, including nuclear-capable bombers, entered its air defence identification zone (ADIZ) in two waves.
Taiwan responded by scrambling its jets and deploying missile systems.
China sees democratic Taiwan as a breakaway province, but Taiwan sees itself as a sovereign state.
Taiwan has been complaining for more than a year about repeated missions by China’s air force near the island.
“China has been wantonly engaged in military aggression, damaging regional peace,” Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang told reporters on Saturday.
The government in Beijing – which is marking 72 years since the founding of the People’s Republic of China – has so far made no public comment.
But it has previously said such flights were to protect its sovereignty and also targeted “collusion” between Taiwan and the US.