Angry Taiwan slams China’s ‘aggression’

It scrambled aircraft in response to a record incursion by 38 Chinese jets

Taiwan on Saturday hit out at China’s “military aggression” and said it had scrambled aircraft in response to a record incursion by 38 Chinese aircraft in two waves on Friday.

Reports on Friday had initially said China’s military had sent 25 aircraft, coinciding with China’s October 1 National Day, towards Taiwan. Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said on Saturday a further 13 aircraft, in a second wave, had also entered the Air Defence Identification Zone.

The first incursion included 18 J-16s, four Su-30s, two nuclear H-6 bombers and one anti-submarine aircraft. The later incursion had 10 J-16s, 2 H-6s and an early warning aircraft. The Ministry said another incursion was reported on Saturday of 20 aircraft. Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang was quoted as saying by Reuters that China had been “wantonly engaged in military aggression, damaging regional peace”.