TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Six fighter jets and one electronic warfare plane from China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) Friday (April 22), according to the Ministry of National Defense.
The six Shenyang J-16 jets appeared in the southwestern sector of the ADIZ, not far from the Taiwanese-held island of Dongsha, one of many disputed islands in the South China Sea.
In contrast, the Y-8 electronic warfare aircraft followed a more conventional route from the Taiwan Strait into the southwestern corner of the ADIZ before retreating back to inner China, the Liberty Times reported.
As has been common practice, Taiwan’s military sent aircraft, issued radio warnings, and deployed air defense missile systems to track the seven Chinese planes. Wednesday (April 20) saw the highest number of intrusions by Chinese military aircraft this month.
