Taiwan says 38 Chinese aircraft entered its air defense zone

ANKARA

Taiwan on Friday said 38 Chinese military jets entered its airspace, which it identifies as its air defense identification zone (ADIZ) – a new record number for this year.

The Defense Ministry said 25 Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft crossed into Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ during daylight, followed by a second wave of 13 aircraft in the evening.

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said "Oct. 1 wasn't a good day."

"The #PLAAF flew 38 warplanes into #Taiwan's ADIZ, making it the largest number of daily sorties on record," the ministry quoted him as saying. "Threatening? Of course. It's strange the #PRC doesn't bother faking excuses anymore."

China claims Taiwan as a "breakaway province" while Taipei has insisted on its independence since 1949.

The so-called “middle line” in the Taiwan Strait was drawn by the US when it signed a mutual defense treaty with Taiwan in 1954.

Taiwan defines ADIZ as an area that extends beyond its air space where air traffic controllers ask incoming aircraft to identify themselves.