China flies seven PLA military aircraft over Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone

In anor incursion into its sovereign territory by Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), as many as seven military aircraft encroached on self-ruled island's air defence identification zone (IZ) on Tuesday. Five People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Shenyang J-16 fighter jets, one Shaanxi Y-8 electronic warfare plane, and one Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare aeroplane flew into southwest corner of Taiwan's IZ, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) said. In response to incursion, Taiwan's fighter jets intercepted PLA aircraft and sent brocast rio warnings. island’s military deployed air defence missile systems to track PLAAF planes, Taiwan News reported.  

Since new year began, Taiwan has reported at least nine Chinese aircraft entering its identification zone so far, which includes five fighter jets and four spotter planes. PRC has increased use of grey zone tactics since September of last year. It has sent dozens of aircraft into Taiwan's IZ ramping up aggression against territory for vouching support from West, particularly United States. China has vowed to take back Taiwan under “One China” policy, occasionally reiterating with “coercion and force” if necessary in a warning to Western nations that have stepped up bilateral ties with island.

Such incursions have been more commonly reported in southwest corner of zone, and Chinese planes fly into Bashi Channel separating Taiwan from Philippines before y he back into Pacific. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence in its report stated that China has sent more than 680 military planes into IZ in year 2021. It is to be noted that Taiwan's IZ isn’t similar to territorial air space but it is island’s self-declared airspace monitored by its military for national security purposes. Taiwan has been complaining about several such encroachments for over months into its IZ by China's air force. 

Why are tensions high between Beijing and Taipei?

Chinese military claims that it carries out "naval and air force combat reiness patrol in direction of Taiwan Strait,” but Taiwan has labelled such sorties as a “violation of its territorial sovereignty and national security.” " army will continue to be on high alert and take all necessary measures to counter, at any time, any interference by external forces and any conspiracy by separatists aiming at so-called 'Taiwan independence,’” a spokesperson for Eastern atre Command of People's Liberation Army h earlier told state-affiliated media. 

A US Congressional delegation h also visited Taipei twice to pledge support for Taiwanese lawmakers. "Taiwan will continue to step up cooperation with United States in order to uphold our shared values of freedom and democracy, and to ensure peace and stability in region,” Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen told conference.