4 Chinese jets enter Taiwan's air defense identification zone

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – At least four Chinese military jets crossed the Taiwan Strait to enter what Taiwan calls its air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Tuesday.

In a statement, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry identified the aircraft as four J-11s and said they were given radio warnings and monitored by military patrol planes and air defense systems.

The ADIZ is a buffer zone outside a country’s airspace, where it has the right to ask incoming aircraft to identify themselves.

Last Thursday, around 13 Chinese jets entered Taiwan’s ADIZ, flying near a location where the US and Philippines are conducting joint military exercises.

The area of infringement was north of the island of Luzon, where around 9,000 soldiers from the US and Philippines are holding their “largest-ever” joint military drill – called Balikatan 2022 – from March 28 to April 8.

As the world focuses on the Russia-Ukraine war, observers are also closely watching China’s moves regarding Taiwan, which it claims as “a breakaway province.”

Taipei, however, has insisted on its independence since 1949 and maintains diplomatic relations with at least 14 countries.

Tensions have escalated since last October when Beijing celebrated its founding anniversary, and in the days that followed, numerous Chinese numerous warplanes flew into Taiwan’s ADIZ.

Hectic air activity across the Taiwan Strait has continued in recent months, with scores of Chinese jets entering the zone and keeping Taipei on edge.