Chinese
military incursions into Taiwanese territory have raised tensions in the
region. China sent 15 military aircraft into Taiwanese airspace between
mainland Taiwan and the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands in the South China Sea
on Sunday, Taiwan's Defense Ministry said. A total of six J-10 fighters, four
J-16s, two SU-30s, a Y-8 reconnaissance aircraft and two Y-8 anti-submarine
aircraft, were sent by China, the ministry said in a statement.
It follows China sending eight nuclear-capable bombers and
four fighter jets into the same airspace on Saturday. China, which continues to
claim Taiwan as its own territory, in recent months has conducted almost daily
flights over the waters between the southern part of Taiwan and the Pratas
Islands. However these flights have generally consisted of only one or two
reconnaissance aircraft. The presence of so many Chinese combat aircraft on
this mission — including an anti-submarine aircraft, eight H-6K bombers, and
four J-16 fighter jets — is unusual. A map provided by Taiwan's Defense
Ministry showed that the Chinese aircraft flew over the same waters where the
most recent Chinese missions have been taking place, well away from mainland
Taiwan. News of the incursion brought a swift statement from the US State
Department, urging China to stop pressuring Taiwan while reaffirming its
commitment to the nation.
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