Chinese military aircraft make 21 flights around Taiwan

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said Chinese military aircraft made 21 flights around Taiwan from this morning.

The Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the flights involved J-10, J-11, J-16, JH-7 and Su-30 fighter jets, as well as KJ-500 early-warning and Y-8 electronic warfare aircraft.

According to the ministry, 15 of the flights crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which is generally regarded as separating the areas of influence of the two sides. The flights were recorded in the northern, central and southwestern sectors of the area Taiwan designates as its “Air Defense Identification Zone.”

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said the flights were conducted as part of a “joint combat readiness patrol” by the Chinese military. It said Taiwan’s armed forces were monitoring the situation and had taken appropriate response measures.

Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory, has been governed separately in practice since 1949. The separation and sovereignty dispute between mainland China and Taiwan has continued since the Chinese civil war.

Beijing has increased military pressure on Taiwan in recent years and said it could use force if necessary to achieve the island’s reunification with the mainland.