Eight Chinese fighter jets buzz Taiwan air space in response to ‘collusion’ between the island and the US
- Four J-16s, four JH-7s and an electronic craft entered Taiwan’s air defence zone
- In response, Taiwan’s air force deployed its missile defence system
- Beijing said it was responding to ‘collusion’ with the US, Taiwan’s main backer
Eight Chinese fighter jets flew into Taiwan’s air defence zone on Friday as military activity continues to escalate around the island.
Taiwan’s air force scrambled to activate its missile system in response to the four J-16s and four JH-7s, as well as an electronic warfare aircraft that came near the Pratas Islands in the southwestern part of its air space.
Beijing, which claims Taiwan as Chinese territory, says it is responding to what it calls ‘collusion’ between Taipei and Washington, Taiwan’s main international backer and weapons supplier.
Eight Chinese fighter jets flew into Taiwan’s air defence zone on Friday as military activity continues to escalate around the island (file image)
Taiwan’s air force reacted with ‘radio warnings issued and air defense missile systems deployed to monitor the activity,’ the ministry said.
Chinese aircraft fly in the southwestern corner of the zone on an almost daily basis, though the last such large-scale incursion was on January 24 when 12 Chinese fighters were involved.
There was no immediate comment from China.
Shortly before the ministry’s statement, Taiwan announced a reshuffle of senior security officials including a new, US-trained defense minister, to help bolster military modernisation and intelligence efforts.
President Tsai Ing-wen has pledged to defend the island and has made modernising its armed forces a priority, including developing a fleet of new submarines, buying new F-16 fighters from the United States and upgrading its warships.
National Security Bureau Director-General Chiu Kuo-cheng, who graduated from the US Army War College in 1999, would replace Yen De-fa as defense minister, Presidential Office spokesman Xavier Chang told reporters.
President Tsai Ing-wen (pictured) has pledged to defend the island and has made modernising its armed forces a priority
The president expected Chiu to complete the next stage of military reforms, including planning for ‘asymmetric warfare,’ focusing on high-tech, mobile weapons designed to make any Chinese attack as difficult as possible, Chang said.
Chiu’s old job as intelligence chief will be taken by Taiwan’s top China policy-maker, Chen Ming-tong, now head of the Mainland Affairs Council.
‘The most important task of the National Security Bureau is to understand and have a grasp on China,’ Chang said.
They will take up their posts next week.
China announces its 2021 military budget next month at the annual meeting of parliament, a figure closely watched as an indication of its strategic intentions.
Last year it set a rate of increase at a three-decade low as the economy wilted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chinese military expert Ni Lexiong, a retired professor at the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, said this year it would likely get a big boost, partly due to the increased tensions over Taiwan.
‘If the mainland wants to liberate Taiwan it needs to make preparations for war, so we need to pump up our equipment,’ he said.