In the ministry statement, it was stated that 37 aircraft were flying in the area that Taiwan declared “Air Defense Identification Zone” (ADIZ).
In the statement, 12 “J-10”, 14 “J-16” fighter jets, 4 “H-6” bombers, 2 “Y-20” aerial refueling aircraft, 2 “Y-9” transport aircraft, 2 “KJ” -500″ early warning aircraft and “WZ-7” type armed drone entered the southeast and southwest parts of ADIZ.
In a statement made yesterday, the ministry stated that the aircraft in question entered the “airspace” of the island during the long-distance reconnaissance training. In the statement, it was stated that the Taiwanese army followed the aircraft with detection-tracking devices and land-based missile systems.
Airspace, in international law, defines the area that includes the airspace over territorial waters, 22 kilometers from the coast. The Air Defense and Identification Area (ADIZ), which has no definition in international law, is declared unilaterally. The identification area does not include civilian aircraft that do not intend to violate the defined airspace, but military aircraft entering the area are evaluated as a potential threat and warned.
It was noteworthy that the flights and ship patrols coincided with the days when Laura Rosenberger, President of the American Institute, which is the de facto embassy of the USA in Taiwan, visited the island.
Rosenberger, in a statement to the Taiwan media at the beginning of the week, stated that the USA wants peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and that it will continue to sell weapons to support the self-defense of the Island.
Taiwan tensions between the US and China
The fact that the United States continues its informal relations with Taiwan, which it does not recognize diplomatically, through high-level visits and arms deals, surpasses the reaction of China, which sees the Island as a part of its territory.
The previous US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in August 2022 caused a crisis between Washington and Beijing. While the Chinese army held military exercises that created an actual blockade around the island after the visit, guided missiles fired from the mainland of China fell into the waters near Taiwan during the exercises in which real weapons and ammunition were used.
After the visit, China increased the patrols of aircraft and ships around Taiwan and regularized flights that crossed ADIZ and the “middle line”, which is supposed to limit the influence areas of the parties in the Taiwan Strait.
The Chinese army held a three-day military exercise around the island, after Taiwan’s leader Tsai Ing-wen made a “transit visit” to the United States, following his visit to Central American countries Guatemala and Belize in early April, and meeting with Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy.
Taiwan, which China defends as part of its territory, has enjoyed de facto independence since 1949 when the People’s Republic of China was founded. The separation that emerged after the civil war between mainland China and Taiwan still continues.
Beijing, emphasizing the principle of “One China”, opposes Taiwan’s establishing independent diplomatic relations with the countries of the world, its representation in the United Nations and other international organizations, and stipulates that the countries that recognize it should break diplomatic relations with Taiwan.