A total of 19 Chinese military aircraft, including fighter jets, flew into Taiwan’s southwestern air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Sunday, the fourth time this has taken place in September, according to the Ministry of National Defense.

The aircraft involved were 10 J-16 multi-role fighters, four H-6 bombers, four SU-30 fighters, and one Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft, according to a report released by the ministry.

All of the aircraft were spotted southwest of Taiwan, between Taiwan and the Taiwanese-held Dongsha Islands, a chart in the report showed.

That airspace is considered part of Taiwan’s ADIZ, an area declared by a country to allow it to identify, locate and control approaching foreign aircraft, but such zones are not considered territorial airspace.

The Taiwan Air Force responded by scrambling planes to monitor the Chinese aircraft, issuing radio warnings, and mobilizing air defense assets, the ministry said.

The highest number of Chinese military planes to enter Taiwan’s ADIZ since the ministry started publishing such movements on Sept. 17, 2020 was 28 on June 15 this year, two days after the Group of Seven (G7) highlighted the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel