G7's Opposition to 'Taiwan Strait Tensions'... China Conducts Largest-Ever Military Drill

28 Military Aircraft Enter Taiwan ADIZ

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] As the Group of Seven (G7) called on China to maintain stability in the Taiwan Strait, Chinese military aircraft including fighter jets, bombers, early warning aircraft, and anti-submarine planes simultaneously entered Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) to conduct a show of force.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense announced on the 15th that a total of 28 Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan's ADIZ.

This flight scale is the largest since Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense began daily reporting on Chinese military flights last year. CNN explained, "On April 12, 25 Chinese fighter jets entered Taiwan's ADIZ, setting the previous record."

The Chinese military aircraft that entered the ADIZ included 14 J-16 fighter jets, 6 J-11 fighter jets, and 4 H-6 bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons. The H-6K bomber is a large model capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

The Chinese military aircraft that entered Taiwan's ADIZ flew not only near the Pratas Islands under Taiwan's jurisdiction but also, among them, bombers and fighter jets flew south of Taiwan.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense stated, "Taiwan sent fighter jets into the ADIZ to warn China" and "missile systems were also deployed for surveillance purposes."

Regarding China's show of force on this day, foreign media analyzed that it was in response to the G7 leaders' joint statement on the 13th, which said, "The peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait are important, and we are seriously concerned about the situations in the East China Sea and South China Sea. We strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo and escalate tensions."

This is the first time the Taiwan issue has been included in a G7 leaders' statement. China reacted by saying, "They distorted facts and reversed black and white on issues such as Taiwan," calling it "slander against China and a violent interference in China's internal affairs."

China has conducted shows of force whenever the United States and Taiwan show close cooperation. In March, in response to Taiwan and the U.S. publicly signing a memorandum of understanding on coast guard cooperation, China sent 20 military aircraft into Taiwan's ADIZ. During the Donald Trump administration, when the U.S. sent high-level government officials to Taiwan one after another after severing diplomatic ties, China conducted large-scale shows of force in the skies and seas near Taiwan, claiming it violated the "One China" principle.