Chinese bombers fly in Taiwan air defense zone

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — China sent a record 18 nuclear-capable bombers into Taiwan's air defense identification zone, Taipei said Tuesday, just days after Beijing banned more Taiwanese imports in the latest sign of deteriorating ties.

In a daily update on Tuesday morning Taiwan's defense ministry said 21 aircraft entered the island's southwest ADIZ over the last 24 hours, including 18 nuclear-capable H-6 bombers.

That represents by far the largest daily sortie by H-6 bombers since Taipei first began releasing daily incursion data in September 2020, according to a database maintained by AFP.

The wave came after China slapped fresh import bans on Taiwanese food, beverages, alcohol and fishery products last week, prompting Premier Su Tseng-chang to accuse Beijing of violating international trade rules and "discriminating" against the island.

The H-6 is China's main long distance bomber and is able to carry nuclear payloads.

It is rare for China to send more than five H-6 bombers in one day. But sorties have increased dramatically in recent weeks.

Until recently October 2021 was the month with the largest number of H-6 flights on record at 16.

But last month China sent 21 of the bombers into Taiwan's ADIZ. And the current tally for December stands at 23.