China displays massive show of force in Taiwan's skies, says it will "crush" attempts at independence

A total of 149 Chinese military aircraft have breached Taiwan's ADIZ over four days in October alone

A military helicopter flies over Taiwan’s capital of Taipei on Tuesday, towing Taiwan’s national flag, as it rehearses for National Day celebrations that will be held on Sunday. (Reuters/Yonhap News)

China is becoming more and more aggressive with its shows of force targeting Taiwan.

In addition to four straight days of incursions on Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) — setting three different “most ever” records in the month of October — it has also been using government-run media to ratchet up its threats.

According to announcements Tuesday by the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense, Taiwan’s ADIZ was breached in the southwest at midday Monday by the Chinese military with 34 J-16 aircraft, two SU-30 fighters, two Y-8 maritime patrol aircraft, two KJ-500 early warning and control aircraft, and 12 H-6 bombers.

That evening, an additional four J-16 aircraft also made incursions, bringing the total number of Chinese military aircraft entering Taiwan’s ADIZ to 56 that day alone. It’s the largest single-day total since the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense began making related data public in September 2020.

For its National Day holiday on Oct. 1, China sent 38 of its military aircraft into Taiwan’s ADIZ. It continued its aerial shows of force on Oct. 2 and 3 with 39 and 16 military aircraft, respectively. A total of 149 Chinese military aircraft have breached Taiwan’s ADIZ over four days in October alone.

China objected vehemently to US calls for it to stop targeting Taiwan with shows of force.

In a statement Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying asserted, “Taiwan belongs to China and the US is in no position to make irresponsible remarks.”

“The relevant remarks by the US side seriously violate the one-China principle,” she added.

Hua also said that “‘Taiwan independence’ leads nowhere.”

“China will take all necessary measures to resolutely crush all attempts at ‘Taiwan independence,’” she said.

On Sunday, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price released a press statement saying that China’s “provocative military activity near Taiwan [. . .] is destabilizing, risks miscalculations, and undermines regional peace and stability.”

“We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure and coercion against Taiwan,” he also said.

China’s government-run media said that the “exercises” taking place in Taiwan’s ADIZ were meant to show how thoroughly the Chinese military controlled the area and to send a strong warning signal to “separatist independence forces” and others outside the region who support them.

By Jung In-hwan, Beijing correspondent

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]