30 Chinese Military Aircraft Enter Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone
China's fleet of aircraft includes Su-35 fighter jets
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30 military aircraft belonging to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) have entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to reports.
The breach occurred Monday and was the second-largest military aircraft incursion of the year.
The incursion included two of China's Su-35 fighter jets for the first time in at least several years.
According to Taiwan News, Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense said the aircraft consisted of:
- Eight Shenyang J-11 fighter jets
- Six Shenyang J-16 fighter jets
- Four Chengdu J-10 fighter jets
- Two Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets
- Two Sukhoi SU-30 fighter jets
- One Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare (Y-8 ASW) plane
- One Shaanxi Y-8 electronic warfare plane
- Four Shaanxi Y-8 electronic intelligence spotter planes (Y-8 ELINT)
- Two KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft (KJ-500 AEW&C)
30 PLA aircrafts (KJ-500 AEW&C*2, Y-8 ELINT*4, Y-8 EW*1, Y-8 ASW*1, J-16*6, J-11*8, J-10*4, SU-35*2, and SU-30*2) entered #Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ on May 30, 2022. Please check our official website for more information: https://t.co/0lmMYSyNQr pic.twitter.com/OwUE8CXF5G
— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) May 30, 2022
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Bonnie Glaser, director of the Asia Program at the German Marshall Fund, tweeted that it was the first time that Su-35 aircraft had flown into Taiwan’s ADIZ.
Two Su-35 aircraft fly in Taiwan’s ADIZ for the first time. https://t.co/9QvFPgPYrb
— Bonnie Glaser / 葛來儀 🇺🇦 (@BonnieGlaser) May 30, 2022
However, a Taiwanese journalist tweeted that an Su-35 was believed to have last entered Taiwan’s ADIZ four years ago, in May 2018.
BREAKING: @MoNDefense just confirmed there’s a total of 30 PLA jet incursions at Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ today, including 2 Su-35 jets. This is the second most recorded incursions this year. Su-35 was believed last forayed Taiwan’s ADIZ four years ago, in May 2018. pic.twitter.com/LHHN4gTkso
— Tingting Liu 劉亭廷 (@tingtingliuTVBS) May 30, 2022
ADIZ is the airspace surrounding a country’s national airspace where an entering foreign aircraft may be required to identify themselves and communicate their flight plans or else trigger defense mechanisms by the inquiring country.
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China has stepped up its incursions into Taiwan’s ADIZ over the last several years.
Monday’s incursion was the second-largest single-day incursion by Chinese military aircraft into Taiwan’s ADIZ this year, according to Taiwan News.
On January 23, 39 PLAAF aircraft were detected in Taiwan’s ADIZ, which was the largest number of aircraft entering on a single day this year.
The largest-ever incursion was 56 aircraft on October 4, 2021, according to the outlet.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense scrambled combat patrol aircraft and issued radio warnings and deployed air defense missile systems, according to its website.
China’s incursion came the same day Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) visited Taiwan in a surprise three-day visit that was sure to upset Beijing.
Deputy Minister Tseng extended the warmest of welcomes to @SenDuckworth & her delegation. We thank our country's good friend for the rock-solid support & wish her a productive 3-day visit aimed at deepening understanding on various issues at the heart of #Taiwan🇹🇼-#US🇺🇸 ties. pic.twitter.com/LErKo72IM3
— 外交部 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MOFA_Taiwan) May 30, 2022
The CCP falsely maintains that Taiwan is a part of Communist China and not a separate country.
However, Taiwan, officially the Republic of China, has never been part of Communist China.
Taiwan considers itself a separate country and has been self-ruled since 1949.
