ALJ: Taiwan reports largest incursion yet by Chinese air force

Al Jazeera reports:

(Taipei says 25 Chinese air force aircraft entered Taiwan’s air defence identification zone and flew in an area close to the Pratas Islands on Monday.)

Twenty-five Chinese air force aircraft including fighter jets and nuclear-capable bombers entered Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ) on Monday, the island’s government said, the largest reported incursion to date.

There was no immediate comment from Beijing.

The report comes after the United States State Department on Friday issued new guidelines that will enable US officials to meet more freely with Taiwanese officials, further deepening ties with Taipei.

Chinese-claimed Taiwan has complained over the last few months of repeated missions by China’s air force near the self-ruled island, concentrated in the southwestern part of its air defence zone near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands.

The latest Chinese mission involved 14 J-16 and four J-10 fighters, as well as four H-6K bombers, which can carry nuclear weapons, two anti-submarine aircraft and an early warning aircraft, Taiwan’s defence ministry said.

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