The Taiwanese government has accused 39 Chinese warplanes of violating Taiwan's borders.
Taiwanese officials say dozens of Chinese warplanes have re-entered its airspace. Taiwan also responded by sending warplanes to encircle the planes and activating its missile defense system.
Taiwan reported on Sunday, January 23, the simultaneous entry of 39 Chinese warplanes into its southwestern air defense zone (ADIZ), including one bomber. There has been no immediate reaction from Beijing to the latest developments.
The Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on the island is not a general airspace but a self-proclaimed airspace that is monitored for national security purposes.
China considers Taiwan a territory of its own and has vowed to integrate the island into its territory by force if necessary.
The island's defense ministry said in a statement that the raid included 34 fighter jets and an H-6 bomber.
Chinese warplanes flew northeast of the Taiwan-controlled island of Pratas, according to an online statement posted by Defense Ministry officials on the flight path records of the fighter jets.
The Ministry of Defense said in a post on Twitter that in response, Taiwan also sent its warplanes to pursue them and immediately aired its air defense missile system to monitor their activities while broadcasting radio warnings. Posted on
This is the largest incident of its kind ever since about 56 fighter jets entered the ADIZ area last October.
Taiwan has been receiving complaints from the Chinese air force about its incursions into its territory, usually in the southwestern part of the country near the Pratas Islands, which it controls. Island defense officials have accused Beijing of using "gray zone" tactics to increase pressure on Taiwan's military.
Under a long-standing agreement with China, Washington adheres to the "One China" policy. According to this political position, the United States is bound to settle all issues with Beijing instead of officially recognizing Taiwan's capital, Taipei.
But Washington's decision to establish diplomatic relations with Beijing instead of Taiwan is also conditional on Taiwan's future being decided peacefully.
Taiwan considers itself an independent state but China considers it a part of its own country. Chinese President Xi Jinping recently reiterated his commitment to "full integration" with Taiwan.
China has also ruled out the possible use of force to achieve Taiwan's reintegration.
China and Taiwan are thought to have been divided during the civil war in the 1940s, but China insists the island is part of its territory and that force could be used for integration if necessary.
Taiwan has its own constitution, and its leaders are democratically elected. However, only a few countries recognize Taiwan. The United States has no official relationship with Taiwan.
China's military activity in the region is also a source of growing tension between Washington and Beijing. Because of this, the United States has increased its military presence in the Indo-Pacific.
This is the first time in Taiwan's airspace that more than three dozen fighter jets have violated at the same time.
