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Taiwan says PLA planes 'intruded' on airspace

2014-08-27 08:37 Global Times Web Editor: Li Yan
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A senior Taiwan military officer said Tuesday that military aircraft from the Chinese mainland were intercepted twice by Taiwanese fighter jets on the borders of its "air defense identification zone (ADIZ)," while mainland experts said rigid confrontation is unnecessary, as an ADIZ is not equal to territorial airspace.

The incident took place on Monday and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, identified as a Yun-8 transport aircraft, left without incident after Taiwanese fighter jets warned them, Hsiung Hou-chi, major general of Taiwan's "Air Force Combatant Command," told reporters.

China's defense ministry did not immediately make any comments over the incident.

Hsiung said the PLA aircraft might have been headed in the direction of the South China Sea and the Philippines.

Observers in Taiwan have warned that the mainland is aiming to test Taiwan's detecting ability of aircraft in the zone, and that the mainland may set up another ADIZ in the South China Sea.

Liu Jiangping, a military affairs expert, said that ADIZ is neither territorial airspace nor a non-fly zone.

"The Taiwan side doesn't have to be overly concerned about PLA jets," said Liu.

Liu added that a Yun-8 would be a big target on the radar and is an improper "testing" choice as the Taiwan side claimed. He said the flight has no connection to setting up another ADIZ and called for the Taiwan side not to intensify the cross-Straits relationship around the issue.

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