The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 2nd that Chinese military aircraft, which routinely invade Taiwan’s airspace, entered the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in large numbers again on the 2nd and carried out provocations.
According to the media, Taiwan’s defense ministry announced that 21 military aircraft, including fighter jets, entered the air defense identification zone in the past 24 hours.
The Ministry of National Defense said that 17 Chinese Jian-10 fighter jets and four Jian-16 fighter jets infiltrated the southwestern part of the air defense identification zone.
The J-10 is an outdated fighter that was commissioned 20 years ago and flew near the coast of China rather than the Taiwanese side.
The Dongsa Archipelago is located in the strategically important area of the northeastern part of the South China Sea, and most of the Chinese military aircraft have been confirmed around it.
Chinese military aircraft reportedly did not cross the middle line of the Taiwan Strait, the de facto boundary between the two sides.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense explained that it monitored the movement of Chinese planes, such as launching interceptor fighters, and responded to their entry into the air defense identification zone as usual.
The previous day, 19 Chinese military aircraft flew over the air defense identification zone, putting Taiwanese forces on edge.
On the morning of the 1st, the Ministry of National Defense dispatched fighter jets and activated an air defense missile system in response to 25 Chinese military aircraft and 3 warships heading toward Taiwanese airspace.
China is using a “gray zone” tactic targeting Taiwan. The Gen-16D, which frequently appears in Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone, is a fighter jet produced to demonstrate its performance in electronic warfare that neutralizes enemy radars and communications.
The National Liberation Army Bo (解放軍報) boasted about the J-16D, saying, “It has integrated operational capabilities that integrate reconnaissance, attack, and defense.”
It is analyzed that the purpose of infiltrating the J-16D is to show off that it can attack by breaking through the interference of electronic warfare weapons equipment of Taiwan and the United States in case of emergency.
Su Xiaohuang, a researcher at the National Defense Safety Research Institute, a think tank under the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense, said, “The main purpose of Chinese electronic warfare that has entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone is to paralyze the opponent’s radar. It also has the ability to destroy, so it can play an important role in the invasion of Taiwan, further increasing the threat.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.