Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register TAIPEI, June 21 (Reuters) – Taiwan intervened on Tuesday to warn 29 Chinese aircraft in the air defense zone, including bombers that flew to the south of the island and the Pacific, in the latest escalation since May. Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained over the past two years of repeated Chinese air missions near the democratically-controlled island, often in the southwestern part of the Air Defense Recognition Zone, or ADIZ, near the Taiwan-controlled islands. Pratas. Taiwan calls China’s recurring close military activities a “gray zone” war designed to both undermine Taiwanese forces by repeatedly interfering with them and to test Taiwan’s reactions. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register The latest Chinese mission included 17 fighter jets and six H-6 bombers, as well as electronic warfare, early warning, anti-submarine and aerial refueling aircraft, the Taiwan Ministry of Defense said. Some of the planes flew over an area northeast of Pratas, according to a map provided by the ministry. However, the bombers, accompanied by cyber warfare and a reconnaissance aircraft, flew over the Bashi Canal, which separates Taiwan from the Philippines and the Pacific, before returning to China on the route they took. Taiwan has sent fighter jets to warn Chinese aircraft, while missile systems have been developed to monitor them, the ministry said, using standard wording for its response. It was the largest invasion since Taiwan listed 30 Chinese aircraft in its ADIZ on May 30. The largest to date this year occurred on January 23, with the participation of 39 aircraft. read more There has been no immediate comment from China, which has said in the past that such moves were exercises aimed at protecting the country’s sovereignty. A State Department spokesman told Reuters in an email that Beijing should “stop military, diplomatic and economic pressure and intimidation against Taiwan.” China launched its third aircraft carrier on Friday, the Fujian, named after the province opposite Taiwan. read more The Chinese military said last month it was conducting an exercise around Taiwan as a “responsible warning” against its “collusion” with the United States. This came after US President Joe Biden angered China, as it seemed to signal a shift in US policy of “strategic ambiguity” for Taiwan, saying the United States would be militarily involved if China attacked the island. China has stepped up pressure on Taiwan to accept its claims of sovereignty. The Taipei government says it wants peace, but will defend itself in the event of an attack. No shots were fired and the Chinese plane was not flying over Taiwanese airspace, but at ADIZ, a wider area is being monitored and patrolled by Taiwan acting to give it more time to respond to any threats. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Report by Ben Blanchard in Taipei and Michael Martina in Washington. Editing by Frank Jack Daniel and Mark Heinrich Our role models: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
