As Blinken issued a warning, China deployed 25 military aircraft to Taiwan immediately

The Largest Incursion into Taiwan ADIZ Since Last Year
Reported to Have Occurred for 86 Days This Year Alone

Formation of Chinese fighter jets
[Photo by Chinese People's Liberation Army official website]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Shortly after U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken issued a warning to China regarding incursions into Taiwan's territory, China responded with a countermeasure by dispatching 25 military aircraft near Taiwan.

According to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense on the 12th (local time), 25 Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) that day. Specifically, China reportedly sent a total of 25 aircraft into Taiwan's ADIZ, including 18 fighter jets, 4 bombers, 2 anti-submarine aircraft, and 1 early warning aircraft. This was the largest scale ADIZ incursion since Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan's ADIZ last year amid rising tensions between the two countries.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense issued a statement that day saying, "We responded with patrol aircraft sorties and warning broadcasts."

The large-scale dispatch of Chinese fighter jets occurred shortly after Secretary Blinken issued a warning message to China the previous day. In an interview with NBC on the 11th, Blinken said, "What we are truly concerned about is the increasingly aggressive actions of the Chinese government toward Taiwan," adding, "Anyone attempting to change the current situation in the Western Pacific by force would be making a serious mistake." This is interpreted as China’s counter-response to Blinken’s remarks.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), China has reportedly violated Taiwan's ADIZ for at least 86 days so far this year. Considering that the 12th is the 102nd day of the year, it means China has entered Taiwan's ADIZ on nearly every day this year to date.