5 things to know about China's record surge of warplanes near Taiwan

China’s  record number of incursions of warplanes into Taiwan's defense zone over the past four days plays to Beijing's military strengths while sending potent messages both at home and far beyond the self-governed island, Western analysts say. A mix of nearly 150 People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) fighter jets, nuclear-capable bombers, anti-submarine aircraft and airborne early warning and control planes have entered Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) since Friday, according to Taiwan's Defense Ministry.

While the Chinese flights have not come close to what Taiwan considers its sovereign airspace -- 12 nautical miles from its coastlines -- they have entered an area, the ADIZ, where Taipei says it will respond to any incursion.

This can be done via radio warnings, anti-aircraft missile tracking or fighter jet intercepts.
On Monday, when the PLAAF sent the largest number of warplanes -- 56 -- into Taiwan's ADIZ since the island began publicly reporting such activities last year, Taiwan's Defense Ministry said radio warnings were issued and air defense missile systems were deployed to monitor the activity.

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