China has again carried out major incursions into neighboring Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). In two days, a total of 52 military aircraft of various models flew in the region, including the first time that the electronic warfare J-16D participates in a raid.
The biggest incursion of 2022 took place on Sunday (23), with 39 aircraft circling the southwest portion of ADIZ. According to Taiwan Ministry of Defense, 24 J-16 fighters, 10 J-10 fighters, two Y-8 electronic intelligence aircraft, two Y-9 electronic warfare aircraft and an H-6 bomber entered ADIZ.
- 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, ROC 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) January 23, 2022
This Monday (24th), eight J-16s, two Electronic Warfare J-16D, two H-6 bombers and one Y-8 maritime patrol were in the southwest region again, totaling 13 planes. On both occasions, the Taiwanese Air Force sent fighter jets to follow the movement of Chinese aircraft.
This is also the first time that the J-16D participates in such an operation. Unveiled at last year's China Airshow, the J-16D is a variant of the J-16 multi-role fighter that specializes in electronic warfare missions such as jamming, signals intelligence, escorting and suppressing enemy air defenses.
13 PLA aircraft (J-16*8, Y-8 ASW, H-6*2 and J-16D*2) entered #Taiwan's southwest ADIZ on January 24, 2022. Please check our official website for more information: https://t.co/oAAr89Fx1Z pic.twitter.com/vMRWxQN9Ct
ADVERTISING - 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, ROC 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) January 24, 2022
The largest incursion recorded so far occurred in October 2021. At the time, Beijing sent 56 aircraft to Taiwan's ADIZ, generating negative diplomatic comments.
The new large operation comes after the US announced major maneuvers in the South China Sea, with the presence of two nuclear aircraft carriers and three amphibious landing ships, one of them from Japan.
The battle groups of the aircraft carriers USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Carl Vinson will conduct exercises including anti-submarine warfare, air warfare and maritime interdiction operations to strengthen combat readiness, the US Navy said in a statement on Sunday.
Operations in the #PhilippineSea, Jan. 22, w/ships & aircraft from #USSCarlVinson & #USSAbrahamLincoln Carrier Strike Groups, Carrier Air Wings 9 & 2, #USSAmerica & #USSEssex Amphibious Ready Groups ed by elements from the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force [@jmsdf_pao_eng]. pic.twitter.com/OvOj1QlbbG
- US Navy (@USNavy) January 23, 2022
“Operations like these allow us to enhance our credible warfighting capability, reassure our allies and partners, and demonstrate our resolve as a Navy to ensure regional stability and combat evil influence”, quoted Rear iral JT Anderson, commander of the strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln.
