Taiwan-China conflict: How many times has Beijing breached Taipei's airspace?

Taiwan has been witnessing a surge of incursions by Chinese military warplanes breaching Taipei's Air Defense Identification Zone (IZ) for past year. Taiwan witnessed provocations intensifying as tensions between two Chinas (People's Republic of China and Republic of China) increased multiple folds in recent past.

While speaking to Taipei Times in December last year, Taiwan's Minister of National Defence, Chiu Kuo-cheng, said that military tensions with China are at ir worst in more than 40 years. It should be mentioned here that tensions between Taipei and Beijing are not new.

Taiwan h split from China during civil war that brought Mao Zedong's Communist Party to power and established People's Republic of China in 1949. While Communist Party took control of Chinese mainland in 1949, Kuomintang-ruled government of erstwhile Republic of China set up its government in Taiwan (officially called Republic of China). 

Although regions have been governed separately for more than seven deces, Communist Party continues to claim sovereignty over Taiwan. Beijing has, on several occasions, stepped up military exercises around self-ruled Taiwan, which it considers its own territory under One China policy. 

List of Chinese incursions in Taiwan in past 3 months:

Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft have breached Taiwan's IZ on at least eight occasions in last three months. As tensions between two Chinas escalate, here's a look at incursions by Beijing on Taipei in last three months.

1. As of October 19, Taiwan Defence Ministry confirmed that at least 600 Chinese sorties breached its Air Defence Identification Zone (IZ).
2. On October 31st, Chinese warplanes flew into island nation's Air Defence Identification Zone (IZ). According to Taiwan News, Beijing dispatched at least six People's Liberation Army (PLA) Shenyang J-16 fighter jets, one KJ-500, and a Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane that entered IZ (MND). According to data released by ministry,  Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) sent about 200 military aircraft to an island near Taiwan in October for training. 
3. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense on November 7, announced that 16 Chinese fighter jets entered country's Air Defense Identification Zone (IZ), Deutsche Welle reported. ministry claimed it gave rio alerts and used air defence systems to monitor aircraft.
4. At least nine Chinese planes, including two nuclear-capable H-6 bombers, entered Taipei on November 21. planes flew to south of island, reported news agency Sputnik, citing Taiwan's Defence Ministry. two bombers reportedly flew into Bashi Channel, which separates Taiwan and Philippines, before returning to China.
5. Beijing dispatched eight military planes into Taiwan's IZ, local media reported on November 27. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense identified planes as four Shenyang J-16 fighter jets, two Xi'an H-6 bombers, one Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane, and one Shaanxi KJ-500 airborne early warning and control (AEW & C) aircraft.
6. Taiwanese government said that at least 27 Chinese aircraft entered its air defence buffer zone on November 28. A later report by Associated Press also stated that Taipei deployed missile systems to monitor warplanes. 
7. 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 January 5. 
8. Thirteen Chinese military warplanes entered Taiwan Air Defence Identification Zone on January 11. 13 aircraft that entered Taiwan's IZ, included a sortie of two H-6 bombers and a Y-8 electronic warfare plane. 

(With inputs from agencies, Image: AP)