# Taiwan reports China’s largest incursion yet to air defence zone Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-12-26 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Chinese Air Force Incursion into Taiwan's Air Defence Zone Meta Description: Seventy-one Chinese aircraft, including fighter jets and drones, entered Taiwan's air defence identification zone. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen calls for URL: https://financedigest.com/taiwan-reports-chinas-largest-incursion-yet-to-air-defence-zonehtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-12-26t015627z1lynxmpeibp00lrtroptp4taiwan-china-1736814683137-compressed.jpg) By Yimou Lee TAIPEI (Reuters) -Seventy-one Chinese air force aircraft including fighter jets and drones entered Taiwan’s air defence identification zone in the past 24 hours, the island’s government said on Monday, the largest reported incursion to date. The incursion included 43 Chinese aircraft that crossed the Taiwan Strait’s median line, an unofficial buffer between the two sides that lies within the defence zone, Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said in a report, as Beijing continues military activities close to the Chinese-claimed island. Taiwan’s official Central News Agency said it was the largest Chinese [air force](https://www.financedigest.com/india-resists-calls-for-more-air-access-in-drive-to-be-global-aviation-force.html "India resists calls for more air access in drive to be global aviation force") incursion to date, although there was no sense of alarm on the island, which has witnessed a steady increase in Chinese pressure in recent years. China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, said it had conducted “strike drills” in the sea and airspace around Taiwan on Sunday in [response to what it said was provocation from the democratically governed](https://www.financedigest.com/pension-life-slams-government-and-regulator-in-its-response-to-scam-consultation.html "Pension Life slams government and regulator in its response to scam consultation") island and the United States. Taiwan, which strongly [rejects China’s](https://www.financedigest.com/ftse-100-rebounds-on-china-optimism-thg-surges-after-rejecting-buyout-bid.html "FTSE 100 rebounds on China optimism; THG surges after rejecting buyout bid") sovereignty claims, said the drills showed Beijing was destroying regional peace and trying to intimidate Taiwan’s people. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, speaking at a military ceremony on Monday morning, reiterated the need for Taiwan to boost its defence capacity due to “the [continuous expansion](https://www.financedigest.com/adnami-appoints-burnett-and-bukholt-to-support-continued-expansion.html "Adnami appoints Burnett and Bukholt to support continued expansion") of authoritarianism”, although she made no mention of the latest military activity. “The more preparations we make, the less likely there will be rash attempts of aggression. The more united we are, the [stronger and safer](https://www.financedigest.com/smarter-safer-stronger-cybersecurity-is-now-critical-to-digital-future.html "Smarter, safer, stronger cybersecurity is now critical to digital future") Taiwan would become,” Tsai told the assembled officers. Some of the Chinese planes, mostly fighter jets, briefly crossed the median [line in the sensitive Taiwan Strait before returning to China](https://www.financedigest.com/birmingham-lines-up-post-brexit-housing-plan-with-a-little-help-from-its-friends-in-china.html "Birmingham lines up post-Brexit housing plan, with a little help from its friends in China"), according to a map provided by Taiwan’s defence ministry. Seven Chinese navy [ships were also detected near](https://www.financedigest.com/oil-spills-and-near-misses-more-ghost-tankers-ship-sanctioned-fuel.html "Oil spills and near misses: more ghost tankers ship sanctioned fuel") Taiwan, the ministry said. China’s military also sent early warning, electronic-warfare and antisubmarine aircraft, as well as drones, into Taiwan’s southern air defence identification zone, or ADIZ, [according to the report](https://www.financedigest.com/worst-flooding-since-1998-leaves-33bn-economic-toll-in-china-according-to-aon-catastrophe-report.html "Worst flooding since 1998 leaves bn economic toll in China, according to Aon catastrophe report"), which detailed Chinese activities near Taiwan over the 24 hours to 6 a.m. (2200 GMT on Sunday). Taipei has complained of repeated missions by the Chinese [air force over the last two years](https://www.financedigest.com/lilium-aims-to-build-400-air-taxis-a-year-seek-grants.html "Lilium aims to build 400 air taxis a year, seek grants"), often in southern areas of its ADIZ. Taiwan sent unspecified combat aircraft to [warn away the Chinese](https://www.financedigest.com/chinese-fret-over-elderly-as-who-warns-of-holiday-covid-surge.html "Chinese fret over elderly as WHO warns of holiday COVID surge") planes, while missile systems monitored their flight, the ministry said, using standard wording for its response. China has stepped up its diplomatic, military and [economic pressure](https://www.financedigest.com/sony-hikes-ps5-price-on-economic-pressures-rising-rates.html "Sony hikes PS5 price on economic pressures, rising rates") in recent years on the self-governed island to accept Beijing’s rule. [Taiwan’s government says](https://www.financedigest.com/pelosi-praises-taiwan-says-asian-trip-wasnt-to-change-status-quo.html "Pelosi praises Taiwan, says Asian trip wasn’t to change status quo") it wants peace but will defend itself if attacked. (Reporting by Yimou Lee; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Edmund Klamann) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. 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