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Chinese military aircraft fly close to Taiwan: Defense ministry

ROC Central News Agency

06/24/2023 02:16 PM

Taipei, June 24 (CNA) Eight Chinese military aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, almost reaching the outer boundary of the contiguous zone Saturday morning, according to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND).

The incursions occurred at around 8 a.m. and were part of the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) joint combat readiness patrols, MND spokesman Major General Sun Li-fang (孫立方) said at a news conference in Taipei.

The eight aircraft were among 19 detected around Taiwan at the time, including an unspecified number of J-10 and J-16 fighter jets. Eight breached the median line and were approaching the outer boundary of the contiguous zone, set at 24 nautical miles (44.4 kilometers) from Taiwan's shores, Sun said.

The joint combat readiness patrols is the name given by the PLA to sorties undertaken by its aircraft and operations by its military vessels that take place in and around the Taiwan Strait on a daily basis.

In addition to the aircraft, five PLA ships were also detected in Taiwan's surrounding waters, Sun said.

The Republic of China (Taiwan) military used its joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance system to closely monitor the PLA activity and also deployed aircraft, vessels and coastal defense missile systems to respond to the situation, Sun added.

Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正) said during an interpellation session at the Legislative Yuan on March 6 that the ROC armed forces would open fire on intruders if they enter Taiwan's territorial waters or airspace.

PLA aircraft and ships entered the contiguous zone and approached Taiwan's territorial waters and airspace during the large-scale military exercises China conducted around Taiwan in August 2022 following a visit to Taiwan by then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Chiu said at the time.

If they had breached Taiwan's territorial waters or airspace, the armed forces would have engaged, Chiu said.

He said, however, that to avoid giving PLA a pretext to launch an aggression on Taiwan, the military has always made a point to exercise self-restraint.

(By Sean Lin and Matt Yu)

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