China sends record number of H-6 nuclear bombers to Taiwan's air defense identification zone

Taiwan has long lived under the threat of invasion by China, and the level of this threat is not diminishing.

Here's What We Know

Taiwanese authorities reported Dec. 13 that China has sent a record number of H-6 bombers to the 492,000-square-meter air defense identification zone. According to the Defense Ministry, 21 aircraft of the People's Liberation Army of China have entered the southwestern air defense identification zone in the last 24 hours, 18 of them are H-6 strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

Taiwan began publishing data on such incidents in September 2020. Since then, the 18 bombers are the highest number of China's strategic aircraft that have entered the air defense identification zone in a single "visit."

Along with the H-6, there were two Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft and one J-11 fighter in the air. Several more aircraft remained outside the air defense identification zone. Taiwan responded by activating its ships and deploying anti-aircraft missile systems. The airspace of the country has not been violated.

Source: Bloomberg
Image: The Aviationist