China sends large group of warplanes towards Taiwan

China sent a large group of warplanes, including fighter jets and bombers, toward Taiwan over the last few days, the island’s defense ministry said.

Taiwan’s defense ministry reported that between the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) sent 30 warplanes and 9 navy vessels around Taiwan.

Over those 72 hours, 62 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft either crossed the strait’s median line – an informal demarcation point that Beijing does not recognize but until recently largely respected – or entered the southeastern or southwestern parts of the island’s ADIZ.

Among the Chinese planes were Su-30, J-11 and J-16 fighter jets, H-6 bombers, Y-8 antisubmarine warfare (ASW) aircraft and Z-9 anti-sub helicopters that had entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ).

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry it tasked combat air patrol warplanes, naval vessels and land-based missile defense to monitor the PLA aircraft, along with nine Chinese warships that were present around the island.