Taiwan’s Defense Ministry: Chinese and U.S. military aircraft enter airspace southwest of Taiwan

Taiwan‘s Ministry of National Defense website announced that on Monday (Feb. 1), a Chinese military aircraft, the Carrier 8 anti-submarine aircraft, entered the airspace southwest of Taiwan, and the Taiwan Air Force dispatched air patrol troops to respond, broadcast repulsion, and anti-aircraft missiles to chase and monitor the aircraft.

According to information released by the “Military Update,” a total of three U.S. military aircraft also appeared in the surrounding airspace on Monday. Among them, two were reconnaissance aircraft and one was a refueling aircraft.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense made its first disclosure against U.S. military aircraft on Jan. 31. On that day, six Chinese warplanes and one U.S. reconnaissance aircraft entered Taiwan’s southwest air defense identification zone. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense’s disclosure of U.S. military activities was considered unusual.

From the content of the disclosures on both days, there was no flight path of the U.S. military aircraft. Taiwan’s official media Central News Agency cited the analysis of scholars Lin Yingyou and Su Ziyun, who said that the dynamics of Chinese communist military aircraft sometimes do not exactly point at Taiwan, but also may target the United States. They believe that if the dynamics of other countries are added, it will be clearer to see the whole picture of the region.

According to the Central News Agency, Taiwan’s military also stressed that the purpose of releasing the dynamics of U.S. military aircraft is simple, in the hope that “people at Home and abroad who are concerned about this issue can understand the dynamics of Taiwan’s southwest air defense identification zone. According to Taiwan’s military, the release of U.S. military aircraft movements also makes the situation in this area clearer, and has no other special purpose, because Taiwan is currently facing the (Chinese Communist) threat has not changed.

Since September 17 last year, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has been releasing news of Chinese military aircraft on its website under the “Current Military News” section.

On Jan. 23, China sent 13 sorties, including one transport 8 anti-submarine aircraft, eight Boom 6Ks and four J-16s, to intrude into Taiwan’s southwestern airspace, and on Jan. 24, China sent 15 sorties to “intrude” into Taiwan’s southwestern airspace. “into Taiwan’s southwest airspace. They were two Carrier 8 anti-submarine aircraft, two Su-30s, four J-16s, six J-10s and one Carrier 8 technical reconnaissance aircraft (TRO).

The massive Chinese military aircraft disturbance in Taiwan comes three days after U.S. President Joe Biden was sworn in on Jan. 20. Chinese military aircraft sent more than 10 sorties into Taiwan’s southwestern airspace on Jan. 23 and 24 in quick succession, which is believed to be Beijing‘s way of testing the reaction of the new Biden Administration.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said at a regular press conference on Jan. 28 that “Taiwan independence is war. He also said, “The PLA’s military activities in the Taiwan Strait are necessary actions to address the current security situation in the Taiwan Strait and the need to safeguard national sovereignty and security, and are a stern response to the interference of external forces and provocations by the forces of Taiwan independence.

U.S. Defense Department spokesman John Kirby made his first comments on mainland China-Taiwan relations on Jan. 28, describing as “unfortunate” the statement that “Taiwan independence is war.

China regards Taiwan as one of its provinces. Since Tsai Ing-wen’s election as Taiwan’s president, China has significantly increased its military actions against Taiwan and has continuously threatened to complete the country’s reunification by force.

Taiwan argues that the Republic of China on Taiwan is a sovereign and independent state that has never belonged to the Communist Party’s People’s Republic of China.