Taiwan's air force scrambles on an almost daily basis to monitor and warn off Chinese aircraft which routinely fly around the island. An AIM-7 Sparrow Launcher at an annual military exercise ahead of the Lunar New Year in Chiayi, Taiwan on Jan 28. Pilot Shih Shun-de said it was important to let people know just how fast the air force can react. "The scramble drill lets the public see the results of the air force's realistic, combat-oriented training," he said. The repeated scrambling to see off China's air force also gives real-life experience for Taiwan's fighter pilots in terms of seeing China's air force and tactics up close.

Source: The Edge Markets January 28, 2026 10:30 UTC