By sending 28 warplanes near Taiwan this week — the most in recent memory — China is attempting to highlight its resolve as it faces international calls to maintain “peace and stability” in the Taiwan Strait and as the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on July 1 fast approaches.
China’s military sent the aircraft, including nuclear-capable bombers, into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Tuesday, just days after Group of Seven nations mentioned the island in a joint statement for the first time ever, urging “the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues.”
The massive show of force came after a relative lull in the number of Chinese sorties into the ADIZ and bested the previous record, 25 warplanes, that was reported April 12. Tuesday’s mission included 14 J-16 and six J-11 fighter jets and four H-6 heavy bombers, as well as various surveillance and early warning aircraft, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said.