Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on two separate occasions Thursday, marking the second consecutive day of provocation by the Chinese military. The move from Beijing follows the deployment of an electronic intelligence aircraft to the region on Wednesday.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense, the first incident occurred early Thursday morning when one Shaanxi Y-8 electronic warfare plane, one Shaanxi Y-8 electronic intelligence plane, and four Shenyang J-16 fighter jets entered the southwestern region of the ADIZ.
Taiwan soon responded to the activity, with the nation’s air force issuing radio warnings and deploying air defense missile systems. The island nation utilized similar tactics later that afternoon when a single Shaanxi Y-8 ASW aircraft was spotted infiltrating the southwestern region of the ADIZ.
6 PLA aircraft (Y-8 EW, Y-8 ELINT and J-16*4) entered #Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ in the morning of August. 12, 2021. Please check our official website for more information: https://t.co/R1xoCCFcIu pic.twitter.com/nbqfkjOMKg
— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) August 12, 2021
One PLA Y-8 ASW entered #Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ in the afternoon of August 12, 2021. Please check our official website for more information: https://t.co/FytK64oPsC pic.twitter.com/vn9HqmHCEO
— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) August 12, 2021
According to Taiwan News, “the presence of the jet fighters was significant because over the past two months, the People’s Liberation Army Airforce (PLAAF) has only been sending one or two slow-moving turboprops to buzz the zone.” The last time China dispatched military fighter jets to the region was on June 17, “when it sent two J-16 fighter jets, four Chengdu J-7 fighter planes, and one Shaanxi Y-8 EW aircraft.”
The uptick in aggression from China seemingly stems from the growing unofficial diplomatic relations between Taiwan and the United States. On Wednesday, the two nations held their first meeting regarding the U.S.-Taiwan Coast Guard Working Group –“a pact agreed back in March as a way to increase maritime cooperation between the two countries.”
“#Taiwan–#US cooperation is steaming ahead!,” Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted. “The 1st Coast Guard Working Group meeting was staged via videoconference. Maritime-related topics discussed included law enforcement, search & rescue, & combating #IUU. Many thanks to CGA & @USCG for the productive & rewarding event.”
#Taiwan🇹🇼-#US🇺🇸 cooperation is steaming ahead! The 1st Coast Guard Working Group meeting was staged via videoconference. Maritime-related topics discussed included law enforcement, search & rescue, & combating #IUU. Many thanks to CGA & @USCG for the productive & rewarding event.
— 外交部 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MOFA_Taiwan) August 11, 2021
In response to the meeting, China falsely accused Taiwan and the United States of conducting “joint sea patrol drills.” While Taiwan’s Coast Guard Association has denied that such drills took place, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office nonetheless said it has “taken note of the relevant reports.”
“We firmly oppose any form of official and military contact between the United States and Taiwan,” said spokesman Ma Xiaoguang. “The [Democratic Progressive Party] DPP authorities, in association with external forces and provocatively playing with fire, will surely bear the consequences of their own.”
