Taiwan scrambles fighter jets to ward off Chinese aircrafts in air defence zone

The foray of Chinese aircraft into Taiwanese airspace marked the latest uptick in tensions, following two years of Taiwan complaining of repeated missions by China’s air force near the democratically governed island

Taiwan scrambled out fighter jets to ward off Chinese planes following the biggest incursion into its air defence zone since January.

It comes amid heightened tensions, with Taiwan – which China claims as its own territory – reporting repeated missions by China’s air force near the democratically governed island.

The “missions” often took place in the southwestern part of its air defence identification zone, or ADIZ, close to the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands.

Taiwan calls China’s repeated nearby military activities “grey zone” warfare, designed to both wear out Taiwan’s forces by making them repeatedly scramble, and to test Taiwan’s responses.

The latest Chinese mission included 22 fighters, as well as electronic warfare, early warning and antisubmarine aircraft, the Taiwan ministry said.

The aircraft flew in an area to the northeast of the Pratas, according to a map the ministry provided.

Taiwan sent combat aircraft to warn away the Chinese aircraft, while missile systems were deployed to monitor them, the ministry said.

It was the largest incursion since Taiwan reported 39 Chinese aircraft in its ADIZ on Jan. 23.

There was no immediate comment from China, which has in the past said such moves were drills aimed at protecting the country’s sovereignty.

China’s military said last week it had recently conducted an exercise around Taiwan as a “solemn warning” against its “collusion” with the United States.

That came after U.S. President Joe Biden angered China by appearing to signal a change in a U.S. policy of “strategic ambiguity” on Taiwan.

The United States would get involved militarily if China were to attack the island, he said.

China has stepped up pressure on Taiwan to accept its sovereignty claims.

Taiwan’s government says it wants peace but will defend itself if attacked.

No shots have been fired and the Chinese aircraft have not been flying in Taiwan’s air space, but in its ADIZ, a broader area Taiwan monitors and patrols that acts to give it more time to respond to any threats.

Late last year, tensions between Taiwan and China appeared to be reaching a boiling point, with warnings a full scale invasion could take place by 2025.

On October 10, Taiwan celebrated its National Day, just as it has done on the 10th day of the 10th month every year for the last 110 years to commemorate the Wuchang uprising which brought an end to the final imperial dynasty.

However, last year was a somewhat more fraught affair as it fell amidst ongoing escalations of tensions with mainland China.

The National Day came amid heightened aggression and rhetoric from both sides, with China flying war planes too close to what Taiwan perceived to be its airspace.

The situation is a product of over a century if history that incorporates the Chinese Civil War, World War Two and the overthrowing of Imperial China.