Taiwan scrambled to warn 39 Chinese aircraft in air defense zone

Taiwan reported the largest incursion since October by China's air force in its air defense zone, with the island's defense ministry saying Taiwanese fighters scrambled to warn 39 aircraft in the latest uptick in tensions.

Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained for more than a year of repeated missions by China s air force near the democratically governed island, often in the southwestern part of its air defense identification zone, or ADIZ, close to the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands.

Taiwan calls China's repeated military activities gray zone warfare, designed to wear out Taiwan s forces by making them repeatedly scramble, and also to test Taiwan's responses.

The Taiwan ministry said that the latest Chinese mission included 34 fighters plus four electronic warfare aircraft and a single bomber.

According to a map provided by the ministry, the aircraft flew in an area northeast of the Pratas.

The ministry said Taiwan sent combat aircraft to warn the Chinese aircraft, while missile systems were deployed to monitor them.

There was no immediate comment from China, which has in the past said such moves were drills aimed at protecting the country's sovereignty.

Although it was not clear what might have prompted China to carry out such a large-scale mission, U.S. and Japanese naval forces have been conducting exercises in the Philippine Sea, a vast area that includes waters to the east of Taiwan.

The U.S. Pacific Fleet said on Sunday that two carrier strike groups were conducting training to preserve and protect a free and open Indo Pacific. China has stepped up pressure on Taiwan to accept its sovereignty claims. Taiwan's government says it wants peace but will defend itself if attacked.

Taiwan reported 148 Chinese air force planes in the southern and southwest part of its air defense zone over a four day period beginning on October 1, the same day China marked a major patriotic holiday, National Day.

Taiwan has reported almost daily Chinese air force forays into the same airspace since then, but the number of planes on Sunday was the largest on a single day since the October incursions.

No shots have been fired and the Chinese aircraft have not been flying in Taiwan's airspace, but in its ADIZ is a broader area Taiwan monitors and patrols that acts to give it more time to respond to any threats.