Taiwan says 38 Chinese aircraft entered its air defense zone

By Faruk Zorlu

ANKARA (AA) - Taiwan on Friday said 38 Chinese military jets entered its airspace, which it identifies as its air defense identification zone (ADIZ) – a new record number for this year.

The Defense Ministry said 25 Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft crossed into Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ during daylight, followed by a second wave of 13 aircraft in the evening.

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said "Oct. 1 wasn't a good day."

"The #PLAAF flew 38 warplanes into #Taiwan's ADIZ, making it the largest number of daily sorties on record," the ministry quoted him as saying. "Threatening? Of course. It's strange the #PRC doesn't bother faking excuses anymore."

China claims Taiwan as a "breakaway province" while Taipei has insisted on its independence since 1949.

The so-called “middle line” in the Taiwan Strait was drawn by the US when it signed a mutual defense treaty with Taiwan in 1954.

Taiwan defines ADIZ as an area that extends beyond its air space where air traffic controllers ask incoming aircraft to identify themselves.