Taiwan says 19 Chinese fighter jets entered its air defence zone

Taiwan had spotted 19 J-10 Chinese fighter planes in its air defence zone in the past 24 hours.Taiwan's forces monitored the situation, including sending up its own air force planes. Taiwan’s defence ministry said on Wednesday that 19 Chinese J-10 fighters had flown into the southwestern corner of the island’s air defence identification zone, or ADIZ, though they remained closer to China’s coast than Taiwan’s, according to a map the ministry released of the air incursion. Six other Chinese air force planes and three Chinese navy vessels were also detected operating near Taiwan on Wednesday, but they did not enter Taiwan’s ADIZ. The ADIZ is a broader area that Taiwan monitors in order to give it more time to respond to any threats.

25 PLA aircraft and 3 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected by 6 a.m.(UTC+8) today. R.O.C. Armed Forces have monitored the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond these activities. pic.twitter.com/XsvnjS01Me

— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. (@MoNDefense) March 1, 2023

Meanwhile, China has said its activities in the area are justified as it seeks to defend its territorial integrity and to warn the United States against "colluding" with Taiwan, despite the anger this causes in Taipei. The Taiwanese government has repeatedly offered talks with China but says the island will defend itself if attacked and that only the Taiwanese people can decide their own future