Taiwan angry after biggest incursion ever by Chinese air force

TAIPEI, Oct.2 (Reuters) – Taiwan sharply slammed China on Saturday after Beijing marked the founding of the People’s Republic of China with the largest ever incursion by the Chinese Air Force into the air defense zone from the island.

Taiwan, claimed by China, has been complaining for a year or more about repeated Chinese Air Force missions near the democratically ruled island, often in the southwestern part of its air defense zone near the islands Pratas controlled by Taiwan.

Taiwanese fighters clashed with 38 Chinese planes in two waves on Friday, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said. He said Taiwan had sent fighter jets to ward off Chinese planes, while missile systems were deployed to monitor them.

“China has engaged in military aggression without cause, undermining regional peace,” Taiwanese Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang said on Saturday morning.

The first wave of incursions included 18 J-16s and four Su-30 fighter jets, as well as two nuclear-capable H-6 bombers and an anti-submarine aircraft, while the second consisted of 10 J-16s, 2 H-6 and an early warning system. plane, the ministry said.

The first batch of Chinese planes all flew in an area near the Pratas Islands, with both bombers flying as close as possible to the atoll, according to a map released by the ministry.

The second group flew into the Bashi Canal that separates Taiwan from the Philippines, a key waterway that connects the Pacific with the disputed South China Sea.

China has yet to comment. He previously said such thefts were aimed at protecting the country’s sovereignty and aimed at “collusion” between Taiwan and the United States, the island’s largest international donor.

The previous largest incursion occurred in June, involving 28 Chinese Air Force planes. Read more

China’s latest mission came less than a day after his government launched an attack on Taiwan’s foreign minister, citing revolutionary leader Mao Zedong’s words to denounce him as a “shrill” fly for his efforts to target to promote Taiwan internationally. Read more

China has stepped up military and political pressure to try to force Taiwan to accept Chinese sovereignty.

Taiwan says it is an independent country and will defend its freedom and democracy.

Report by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Jane Wardell and William Mallard

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