A Chinese surveillance aircraft has been intercepted by Taiwanese fighter jets in Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
In a routine press conference on Tuesday, Chief of Staff of Taiwan’s Air Force Combatant Command, Hsiung Hou-chi, said that the Chinese surveillance plane was detected twice on Monday. It was flying at an altitude of some 22,000 feet. He said both incidents lasted about ten minutes.
Hsiung said an unspecified number of Mirage 2000 fighter jets were dispatched to intercept and follow the Chinese aircraft as it left the zone in the morning. He also said Taiwanese-made IDF fighter jets were used in the afternoon intercept.
The official’s comments refuted a United Daily News newspaper report on Tuesday that the military did not intercept the Chinese plane. He said the ADIZ is the symbol of national sovereignty, and the military will definitely take action if the zone is intruded upon.