Taiwan scrambles to see off 27-plane Chinese incursionMONITORED BY JETS: Chinese aircraft included Y-20 aerial refueling aircraft, suggesting that China refueled its short-range jets during flightBy Ben Blanchard / Reuters, TAIPEIThe air force scrambled again yesterday to warn away 27 Chinese aircraft that entered its air defense identification zone (ADIZ), the Ministry of National Defense said, the latest increase in tensions across the sensitive Taiwan Strait. Taiwan has complained for a year or more of repeated missions by China’s air force near the nation, often in the southwestern part of its ADIZ, close to the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島). A Chinese Y-20 aircraft performs maneuvers during the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, China, on Nov. 12, 2014. Photo: BloombergThe latest Chinese mission included 18 fighter jets plus five nuclear-capable H-6 bombers, as well as, unusually, a Y-20 aerial refueling aircraft, the ministry said. Taiwan sent combat aircraft to warn away the Chinese aircraft, while missile systems were deployed to monitor them, the ministry said.

Source: Taipei Times November 29, 2021 04:14 UTC