Chinese plane intrudes Taiwan air defence zone for seventh day in row

People`s Liberation Army Air Force`s (PLAAF) Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane flew into the southwest corner of Taiwan`s air defence identification zone.

Beijing: In yet another intrusion by the People`s Liberation Army, a Chinese military plane entered Taiwan`s air defence identification zone (ADIZ). A single People`s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane flew into the southwest corner of Taiwan`s ADIZ on Thursday, according to Taiwan`s Ministry of National Defense (MND).

In response, Taiwan sent aircraft, issued radio warnings, and deployed air defence missile systems to track it, Taiwan News reported. Thursday`s (September 9) intrusion marks the seventh day in a row Beijing has sent planes into the identification zone.

Since mid-September of last year, Beijing has stepped up its grey-zone tactics by regularly sending planes into Taiwan`s ADIZ, with most instances occurring in the southwest corner of the zone and usually consisting of one to three slow-flying turboprop planes.

Beijing claims full sovereignty over Taiwan, a democracy of almost 24 million people located off the southeastern coast of mainland China, despite the fact that the two sides have been governed separately for more than seven decades.

Taipei, on the other hand, has countered the Chinese aggression by increasing strategic ties with democracies including the US, which has been repeatedly opposed by Beijing. China has threatened that "Taiwan`s independence" means war.

On June 1, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to complete reunification with self-ruled Taiwan and vowed to smash any attempts at formal independence for the island.