A total of 39 Chinese warplanes entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone on Sunday. Some military experts say the incursion is a response to recent military exercises held by the United States and Japan south of Okinawa.
Taiwan’s defense ministry reported the incursion on Twitter late on Sunday night. Since the ministry began making its reports publicly available, the highest number of warplanes entering Taiwan’s air defense zone on a single day was 56, reported in October last year.
China has not commented on Sunday’s incursion.
The sortie into the south-east of Taiwan’s air defense zone comes after a six-day long joint exercise held by Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force and the US Navy.
Ten US warships took part in the exercise, including two aircraft carriers.