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More than two dozen Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan’s air defense zone on Wednesday — with some crossing the median line in the Taiwan Strait, a provocative gesture after Beijing threatened military action over House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island nation.
The People’s Liberation Army Air Force planes flew “in the airspace around the Taiwan Strait” Wednesday morning, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense revealed, instructing the island’s air force to dispatch forces to respond as well as monitor anti-aircraft missiles.
The Chinese incurison was made up of six J-11 fighter jets, five J-16 fighters, and 16 Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30 aircraft.
In response to the planes, radio warnings were issued and Taiwanese air defense missile systems were deployed to monitor the activities.
On Tuesday, China sent 21 military planes into the air defense zone, but none crossed the median line separating Beijing and Taipei’s areas of maritime control.
Wednesday’s incident marks the latest aggressive action from China as the nation holds its largest military drills since 1995, which it says are “necessary and just” in the wake of Pelosi’s visit.
