On August 25 Taiwan had to scramble jets after “two Chinese Y-8 maritime patrol aircraft” entered Taiwanese airspace.
Channel News Asia reports that “one plane entered Taiwan’s ADIZ (Air Defense Identification Zone) at 8:33 am and another at 2:31 pm.” Both planes were reportedly “en route to a disputed area in the South China Sea.”
Taiwanese Air Force Major General Hsiung Hou-chi said Taiwan “scrambled Mirage 2000-5s and Indigenous Defense Fighters.” He would not say exactly how many planes were scrambled, but AFP reported the Taiwanese fighters followed the Chinese planes until they left Taiwan’s airspace.
There is “speculation that China may set up an ADIZ in the South China Sea” to assert territorial claims there in much the same that they did in the East China Sea last year.
In July the East Asia Forum reported that Japan re-interpreted its constitution to allow for “collective self-defense” as part of its response to China’s territorial claims in the East China Sea. This re-interpretation will also allow Japan “to defend a foreign country that is in a close relationship with Japan.”
It also opens the door for Japan “to act in concert with the United States in Northeast Asia.”
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