Taiwan reports a new large-scale attack by the Chinese Air Force on Reuters

TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan reported on Sunday that the Chinese air force had launched its largest airstrike in its air defense since October, with the island’s Defense Ministry saying that Taiwanese fighters had tried to warn 39 planes of the latest escalation of tensions.

Taiwan, which considers China its homeland, has repeatedly complained that Chinese air forces have repeatedly carried out missions near a democratically governed island, often in the southwestern part of the area to identify its air defenses, or ADIZ, near Taiwan. He controlled the silver islands.

Taiwan calls repeated military activities around China a “gray zone” war, repeatedly mixing Taiwanese forces and designed to test Taiwan’s responses.

The last mission in China consisted of 34 fighters plus four electronic warplanes and a single bomber, the Taiwanese ministry said.

The plane flew over an area northeast of Pratas, according to a map provided by the ministry.

Taiwan sent fighter jets to warn Chinese planes to monitor them as missile systems deployed, the ministry said.

There was no immediate comment from China, which said in the past that such moves were exercises aimed at protecting the country’s sovereignty.

While it was unclear what could have prompted China to undertake a large-scale mission, U.S. and Japanese naval forces are conducting exercises in the Philippine Sea in a large area that includes eastern Taiwan waters.

The U.S. Pacific Fleet said on Sunday that the exercises included a strike by two carriers, who were “training to guard and protect the free and open Indo-Pacific.”

China has stepped up pressure on Taiwan to accept its sovereignty claims. The Taiwanese government says it wants peace but will defend itself if it is attacked.

Taiwan reported 148 Chinese Air Force aircraft south and southwest of its air defense area within four days from October 1, the same day China celebrated the key holiday of national holiday, National Day.

Taiwan has reported daily Chinese air forces entering the same airspace almost daily, but the number of planes on Sunday was the highest in a single day since the October attacks.

No shots were fired and Chinese planes did not fly into Taiwan airspace, but in their ADIZ, a wider area of ​​Taiwan controls and patrols, acting to provide more time to respond to any threats.