The military is on high alert and well-prepared for Chinese incursions into Taiwan’s airspace. That was the word from Deputy Defense Minister Chang Zhe-ping on Monday.
Chang’s comments came after 20 Chinese aircraft flew near the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in southeastern Taiwan last Friday.
The incursions included maritime patrol aircraft, Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft, fighter-bombers, reconnaissance aircraft and other jet fighters. It was the largest incursion for which the defense ministry released data.
Chang told lawmakers that the combination of aircraft was a sign of aggressive military maneuvering. But Chang assured lawmakers that the armed forces were on heightened alert. He said they deployed air defense missile systems to monitor the Chinese aircraft and keep them 30 nautical miles away from Taiwan.
The Chinese incursions came on the same day that Taiwan and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a Coast Guard Working Group.