China's air force sent 28 aircraft close to Taiwan, the largest sortie this year, further ratcheting up military pressure on the government in Taipei as it seeks to strengthen ties with the US.
The 28 People's Liberation Army aircraft, including 14 J-16 and six J-11 fighters, were detected in Taiwan's southwestern air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Tuesday (June 15), Taiwan's defence ministry said in a statement.
Taipei's military sent patrol aircraft, issued radio warnings and deployed air defense missile systems to monitor the activity.
Chinese military aircraft have frequently entered the southwest part of Taiwan's ADIZ over the past year as the PLA has steadily picked up military activity around the democratically-ruled island.
Washington and Beijing have been issuing warnings to each other regarding Taiwan since President Joe Biden took office in January, adding to tensions that increased steadily during the Trump administration.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly threatened to take control of the island through military intervention.
The Chinese Defence Ministry said in April that the Liaoning aircraft carrier had carried out exercises near Taiwan and the navy would plan more drills.
"This big mission is a reminder that China has not renounced the use of force against Taiwan, and its size and composition broadcasts Beijing’s willingness to actively confront, with military might if necessary, anyone who opposes it," said Mr Drew Thompson, a former official overseeing military-to-military relations for the US defense secretary, who is now a visiting senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
The government of President Tsai Ing-wen views Taiwan as an already de facto sovereign nation.
Earlier this month, a bipartisan US congressional delegation visited Taiwan prompting criticism from Chinese nationalists online.
So long as the PLA Air Force acts in accordance with international norms and agreements, the chances of an accident are small, Mr Thompson said.
"Should PLA planes operate in a reckless fashion - regardless of how justified Beijing feels about applying military pressure towards Taiwan or its neighbors - then the risk of an accident increases considerably," he said.
Source: Bloomberg